Paute Dam

The Paute Dam, also known as the Daniel Palacios Dam and the Amaluza Dam, is a hydroelectric dam in Ecuador. It is located on the Paute River, 125 kilometres (78 mi) from Cuenca. After the privatization of power generation that began in 1996 under the government of Sixto Durán Ballén, the dam passed into the hands of the company Hidropaute SA and then returned to state ownership during the government of Rafael Correa when Hidropaute became part of the Ecuador Electricity Corporation (Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador, CELEC).

Paute Dam
Location of Paute Dam in Ecuador
Location	Paute, Ecuador
Coordinates	02°35′10″S 78°33′30″W
Construction began	1976
Opening date	1983
Operator(s)	CELEC
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Arch-gravity dam
Impounds	Paute River
Length	420 m (1,380 ft)
Dam volume	1,188,219 m3 (1,554,132 cu yd)
Spillway type	Gate-controlled overflow
Spillway capacity	7,724 m3/s (272,800 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Creates	Paute Reservoir
Total capacity	120×10^6 m3 (97,000 acre⋅ft)
Active capacity	100×10^6 m3 (81,000 acre⋅ft)
Power Station
Commission date	Phase AB: 1983 Phase C: 1991
Hydraulic head	Phase AB: 650 m (2,130 ft) Phase C: 657 m (2,156 ft)
Turbines	Phase AB: 5 x 100 MW (130,000 hp) Pelton-type Phase C: 5 x 115 MW (154,000 hp) Pelton-type
Installed capacity	1,075 MW (1,442,000 hp)[1]

Paute was constructed between 1976 and 1983 on the Paute River and designed on the premise that it would be erected downstream of the Mazar Dam. The Paute Dam's supports the 1,075 megawatts (1,442,000 hp) Molina Power Station. In late 2009, low water levels at the dam were the primary cause of an electricity crisis in Ecuador.