HomeArchiveCocos Island to have new hydroelectric plant

Cocos Island to have new hydroelectric plant

The Olivier River at Cocos Island will generate electricity for the area under an agreement signed Tuesday by the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute and the National Power and Light Company.

The river, which flows into the Chatham Bay, will be transported by 480 feet of tubes to a power plant near the coast. This is the second hydroelectric project on the island. The first has operated since 2003 in the Genius River.

The project will cost â‚¡145 million ($287,000), to be provided by these three institutions

Cocos Island has retained more than 98 percent of its original animal species, and is one of the four most biodiverse regions in Costa Rica. It has a total of 1,600 species, 216 of which are native, according to the United Nations Program for Development.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Uses Smartphones to Create 3D Maps of Pacific Coral Reefs

A Costa Rican conservation organization is using ordinary smartphones to create detailed three-dimensional maps of coral reefs along the country's Pacific coast, giving researchers...

Red Tide Spreads in Costa Rica’s Gulf of Nicoya and Cooking Won’t Make Shellfish Safe

SENASA widened the Gulf of Nicoya red tide ban. Cooking doesn't make oysters, mussels or pianguas safe.

Costa Rica Unemployment Climbs to 6.5% With 20,000 More Out of Work

Costa Rica's unemployment rate rose to 6.5% in the July-to-September quarter, up from 5.7% a year earlier, according to the National Institute of Statistics...

El Refugio Costa Ballena: Making a Difference for Animals and the Community

From rescuing animals in need to providing affordable spay/neuter surgeries and supporting community members’ loving pets, one local nonprofit is changing the lives of...

Local Elections Drove Costa Rica’s CPTPP Reversal, Sources Say

Concerns about the 2028 municipal elections helped drive Costa Rica's decision to abandon its bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific...

Your 2027 Marchamo Is Lower if You Drive a Private Car

If you drive a private car, your 2027 marchamo is probably a little cheaper than last year's. The National Insurance Institute (INS) puts the...

Prosecutors Find No Costa Rican Victims in Epstein Files Investigation

Costa Rican prosecutors ask a court to dismiss their Epstein files probe after finding no local victims or suspects.

Costa Rica Now Has Its Own Wine Grape After a 50-Year Quest

Costa Rica now has a wine grape of its own. Peppevidor, a hybrid bred to grow in tropical heat, was certified as a new...

Gota a Gota Extortion Cases Keep Climbing in Costa Rica, OIJ Data Show

Extortion complaints tied to gota a gota loans in Costa Rica hit a record 935 in 2025, and 2026 is close behind.
Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Car Rentals
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel