This December marks the closing of a significant chapter for GPG Costa Rica with the successful delivery of the La Joya hydroelectric power station to the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE). This historic milestone consolidates La Joya as the first hydroelectric project transferred to ICE, marking the end of a process that has involved exceptional dedication and effort by our talented team over the past year.
The comprehensive process ranged from training ICE staff to extensive reviews and testing of all equipment at the facility and associated documentation. The GPG Costa Rica team played a crucial role at every stage, demonstrating exceptional commitment to the successful delivery of La Joya.
The story of La Joya began in June 2000, when GPG won its first hydroelectric project in Costa Rica under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. This 20-year project, which included three years of construction, was not only pioneering for the country, but also represented an unprecedented technological breakthrough. The use of tunnel boring machine (TBM) technology for the excavation of the tunnel not only fast-tracked the project’s execution times, improving health and safety conditions, but also significantly reduced its environmental impact.
The La Joya tunnel, the first tunnel excavated by a TBM and the second longest to date, is both a technical milestone and an international role model owing to the lessons learnt in excavating volcanic terrain. In addition, La Joya was the first hydroelectric project in Costa Rica and in our company to obtain Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) certification and triple Integrated Management System (IMS) certification.
This project, recognised by the Costa Rican National Insurance Institute for its commitment to occupational health and safety, also implemented social responsibility initiatives in neighbouring communities. Over the past 17 years, La Joya has operated with a 60% capacity factor and achieved 99.5% reliability, reflecting the excellence maintained through the efforts of GPG’s dedicated staff.
José Cros, Director of Renewables Latam Operations, congratulated the GPG Costa Rica team “for the excellent work done and the successful delivery of La Joya. Thanks to their dedication and professionalism, not only did they deliver, but they also brought forward the scheduled date. Congratulations on this extraordinary achievement!”
We are sorry to say goodbye to this plant, where many colleagues have developed professionally and responded in an exemplary manner to such demanding operating conditions. “We are satisfied with the work we have done, aware that we have contributed significantly to achieving the country’s development goals, where more than 98% of electricity generation comes from renewable sources,” said Antonio Sánchez, our colleague at Generation in Costa Rica and Panama.
What began as a pioneering project has become a benchmark of excellence, thanks to the commitment of professionals from different areas of our company, from engineering to hydroelectric power generation and renewables. This legacy inspires us and strengthens our confidence to face new projects with determination.
Farewell to La Joya, a pioneering project that will always be remembered.