IN WHICH REGION OF MEXICO ARE THE MAIN HYDROELECTRIC DAMS LOCATED? - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The main hydroelectric dams in Mexico are located in the state of Chiapas on the Grijalva River. In this state are the Dr. Belisario Domínguez dam, the Netzahualcóyotl, the Ingeniero Manuel Moreno Torres dam and the Ángel Albino Corzo dam. These generate approximately 44% of the total hydroelectric energy in the country.

This is due to its geographical, topographic and relief characteristics. The first power station in the country dates from 1889 in Batopilas, Chihuahua. By 2012, this nation had 64 hydroelectric plants, twenty of which are large.

Main hydroelectric dams in Chiapas

Dr. Belisario Domínguez

This dam is also known as La Angostura and was built on the Grijalva riverbed. It is the largest in the state of Chiapas and is located in the municipality of Venustiano Carranza, approximately 100 km south of Tuxla Gutiérrez.

Construction began in 1969 and its work was completed in July 1976. It has a power generation capacity of 900 megawatts.

For the construction of the reservoir, 60 thousand hectares of land had to be flooded. This resulted in the partial or total impact of 16 communities. Many members of these communities were compensated or relocated.

Netzahualcoyotl

The Netzahualcóyotl Hydroelectric Plant is popularly known as the Malpaso Dam, being the first of the four that have been built along the Grijalva riverbed.

This was inaugurated in the sixties and is one of the most important civil engineering works nationwide. Its capacity is 1,120 megawatts.

The purpose of this dam was to generate electricity for the southeast of the Mexican country. Its reservoir capacity is 13 billion cubic meters and a storage capacity of 860 million. About 1,100 million Mexican pesos were invested for its construction.

Engineer Manuel Moreno Torres

The alternative name for this power plant is Chicoasén dam. It began operating in May 1981. Its generation capacity is 2,400 megawatts.

Due to its production, it is ranked fourth among hydroelectric plants in the world.

Its 262 meter curtain, from the lowest point of its foundations, is considered the highest in North America. If the type of castling is taken into account, it is the highest in the world.

Angel Albino Corzo

The most recent hydroelectric plant in Chiapas is the Ángel Albino Corzo or Peñitas dam, as it is commonly called. His duties began on September 15, 1987.

It has a capacity of 420 megawatts. Its second stage is in the preparation phase, and it is estimated that it will have a capacity of 225 megawatts and a reservoir of 189 hectares.

References

1. Ramos-Gutiérrez, L. and Montenegro-Fragoso, M. (2012). Hydroelectric plants in Mexico: past, present and future. Technology and Water Sciences, Vol. III, No. 2, April-June, pp. 103-121.
2. Central Hidroeléctrica (Malpaso) Nezahualcóyotl in the Mexican state of Chiapas, CEMEX supplied special concrete for Central Hidroeléctrica in Mexico. (2016, July 13). The Portico of Mezcalapa. Recovered from elporticodelmezcalapa.com.
3. Rodríguez Wallenius, CA (2012, June 23). Four wounds on the Grijalva river. La Jornada del Campo, No. 57. Recovered from día.unam.mx.
4. Arrieta Fernández, P. (1994). The social integration of the Chontalpa: a regional analysis in the Mexican tropics. Mexico: Iberoamerican University.
5. Gomez Gallegos, I (2002). Mexico Records - Believe it or not! Mexico: Quartz.