Environmental assessment and mitigation of wastewater from the dismantling of the Santa Elena thermoelectric plant, 2024. Evaluación y mitigación ambiental de aguas residuales del desmantelamiento del parque termoeléctrico de Santa Elena.

Abstract

Since 2007, Ecuador considered the need to restructure its energy sector in a comprehensive manner, which led to the transformation of generating companies into electricity distributors and the closure of obsolete thermoelectric plants. In this context, the Santa Elena Business Unit of CNEL EP fully dismantled its generation facilities, applying the Environmental Management Plan (EMP). It was observed that, in two concrete tanks under one of the removed systems, there was an environmental liability consisting of a liquid and a muddy waste, which were not characterized, and whose management was not contemplated in the EMP. The study proposes a methodology consisting of a SWOT analysis as an initial planning tool, determination of the volume and environmental quality of the waste in comparison with the environmental criteria of current environmental regulations, determination of the potential negative environmental impacts associated with waste management, and potential infiltration under the ponds in the event of infiltration into the soil. Finally, the proposal of management strategies for the environmental liability, which was characterized as hazardous waste under Ecuadorian regulations.