Plugging Ituango’s right diversion tunnel: An innovative solution for an unprecedented problem

A major setback, in 2018, for Colombia’s largest hydro project was the collapse of a diversion tunnel, causing a hazardous situation for the dam, and a significant challenge for engineers who needed to find a rapid way to access the submerged tunnel and a solution to a problem of unprecedented complexity. Imaginative and courageous concepts, which were rapidly modelled and tested (although their success was impossible to guarantee), along with national and international collaboration, led to an impressive solution. The planning and implementation spanned five years; the permanent plug of the right diversion tunnel was completed in September this year. Together with the commissioning of the first 1200 MW in October 2023 and the completion of underwater works in August this year, the project is back on track.