The Chiles volcano, in the province of Carchi, could produce 138 electrical megawatts of geothermal energy according to a study produced by the ESPE polytechnic university.

The geothermal project proposed for the volcano is called Tuniño-Chiles-Cerro Negro and would be built in co-operation with Colombia, according to an agreement signed last year. The land designated for the geothermal energy plant is 4,900 hectares. It’s hoped the station could start generating energy by June 2018.

The volcano in Carchi is one of three areas of interest. Sites in the Andean provinces of Cotopaxi (Chalupas) and Chimborazo (Imbabura) are also being studied.

Hot water and steam emanating from the center of the Earth will be harnessed at the plant to produce 80 MWe of electricity split between the northern provinces: Imbabura, Carchi, and northern sections of Pichincha and Sucumbíos.

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