Senace, Peru’s environmental certification service for sustainable investments, has approved an update to Hidroeléctrica Río Huamuco’s citizen participation plan as part of the detailed environmental impact statement for the Huamuco hydro project.

The project, to be built on the Humauco River in Maranon province in the central highland region of Huanuco, was originally proposed to involve the development of four powerhouses: 54 MW, 65 MW, 68 MW and 76 MW. According to BNamericas, the developer requested an update due to proposed changes, primarily the installation of two plants, one downriver from the other, at 124 MW and 182 MW.

This change would increase overall generating capacity by 43 MW, requiring investment to increase to US$536 million from US$450 million, while also decreasing the construction window to four years from 10.

Senace says the project components are within the same zone of the influence area.