Environmental

Ituango project earns Hydropower Sustainability Standard’s silver certification

Ituango project earns Hydropower Sustainability Standard’s silver certification

Empresas Públicas de Medellín’s (EPM) 2.4 GW Ituango hydroelectric project has obtained the silver certification from the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA), rating it as sustainable in environmental, social and governance components.

The Ituango plant is on the Cauca River in northwestern Colombia. From the initial planning of Ituango, implementation of the project was planned in two stages. The first stage corresponded to units 1 to 4 and the second to units 5 to 8. Each of the units has a capacity of 300 MW.

This achievement positions Ituango as the first silver certification in Latin America and EPM as the second member of the International Hydropower Association to receive certification for a project in the region, according to a release.

The certificate is valid until November 2026, during which time the project will be recognized for its adherence to the highest sustainability standards. To achieve this distinction, the project received support from the Global Program for Strengthening Capacities in Sustainable Hydropower, financed by the Swiss Economic Cooperation and implemented by the HSA.

This program aims to promote the application of international best practices in the management of hydroelectric projects. Colombia, Indonesia, Morocco, Tajikistan and Albania are beneficiary countries so far.

“Going forward, the only acceptable hydropower is sustainable hydropower. The Ituango project provides reliable and renewable electricity that not only meet energy needs but does so in a way that promotes long-term sustainability and energy security,” said Eddie Rich, chief executive office of IHA. “By collectively adopting and demonstrating sustainable practices, IHA members can solidify hydropower’s essential role in developing net zero.”

“This recognition was the result of business management framed by the care and respect for natural resources and communities,” said EPM General Manager John Maya Salazar. This certification reaffirmed that “we are aligned with international performance standards on environmental and social sustainability and leverage initiatives that contribute to the development in the Project’s area of influence,” he said. “This certificate supports the work that EPM has undertaken to ensure human and financial resources for environmental and social management; the resilience and recovery achieved after the contingency; the capacity to manage environmental requirements that have arisen throughout the construction phase; and the contribution to forest conservation and the development and strengthening of communities.”

HSA is a multilateral non-profit organization governed by governments, companies, civil society and financial institutions. The HSA enhances transparency in the sector through its rigorous sustainability assessment and certification system and a robust capacity-building program, all supported by the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, the global certification scheme aligned with the performance standards of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation.

The certification encompasses three major components of hydropower project management: environmental, social, and governance; contributing to the development of sustainable hydropower; and demonstrating that its actions are consistent, respectful and harmonious with the environment and its components.