Patuca III Hydropower Station, Honduras

Patuca III Hydropower Station is the first hydropower project undertaken by China Hydropower Construction Group Corporation (now PowerChina) in Honduras under an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) model. It also serves as a landmark project marking the entry of Guiyang Survey, Design, and Research Institute (under PowerChina) into the hydropower market of Central America. The catchment area above the dam site is 12,330 km², with a long-term average flow rate of 133.60 m³/s. The total reservoir capacity is 1.321 billion m³, and the normal impoundment level is 290.00 meters. The installed capacity is 104 MW (2 × 52 MW), with an average annual power generation of 336 million kWh.

The first phase of the project was completed in August 2013, and the second phase officially commenced construction in September 2015. As the sole designated manufacturer of spherical plain bearings by the design institute, SHCM successfully secured the contract for the radial gate support hinge bearings in October 2016 and completed all deliveries by August 2017. Considering that the client is a developing country in Central America with project cost control requirements, the company provided customized bimetallic embedded self-lubricating spherical plain bearings that are safe, reliable, high-quality, and cost-effective. This type of bearing was first applied in the field of radial gate support hinges, and SHCM obtained certification from the China Electricity Council as early as 2008, accumulating numerous successful application cases. These products significantly reduce the consumption of copper alloys, effectively lowering the client’s procurement costs for non-ferrous metals. Moreover, they operate without the need for oil or grease lubrication, greatly minimizing oil pollution in local rivers and avoiding environmental damage from construction activities. This approach has earned high recognition from the client.