The dam on the Tireo River, one of the important parts of the Yuna River watershed, is well under way. In fact, today is the first anniversary of the start of construction of the dam project that will provide 50 megawatts of electric energy, save 387.000 barrels of oil and US$23 million each year. The project is budgeted at US$185 million and is being built by the Brazilian Norberto Odebrecht company. Today the dam is 34% complete. The construction of the dam will span two provinces, with the generator house and other machinery located in the Monsignor Nouel province and the dam itself located in La Vega province. Odebrecht is digging a 10-kilometer main tunnel, together with two shorter tunnels for a total of 15 kilometers of tunnels. Material from the tunnels is being used to build the dam itself. According to Samuel Peralta, the CDEEE official onsite, the dam will hold four million cubic meters of water and cover an area of slightly more than 25 hectares. When finished, the two 25-megawatt Pelton-type generators will provide 46 million kilowatt-hours of electricity. An additional benefit to the area is the new 27-kilometer access road that will help farmers in the Trieo and Constanza area to transport their products to market. The 42-month long contract includes US$2 million for the reforestation of the watershed with native species that will guarantee the dam a long and useful life.