AES Andres
Cabo Caucedo, Dominican Republic

The growth of the Dominican economy remains significantly hampered by an ongoing energy shortage, which causes frequent blackouts and high prices. Energy developer AES proposed a new electric power plant with ancillary facilities of a 275-ft-dia LNG tank and containment berm, marine loading/unloading platform and dolphins, several turbines, transformers and operations buildings.

Haley & Aldrich was retained to provide environmental and geotechnical services for the project, to be located on a site with challenging limestone bedrock subsurface conditions. In the initial stages of the project, Haley & Aldrich provided environmental consulting services in support of the development of an environmental impact assessment, preparation of a stormwater management plan and an emergency contingency plan.

Key foundation design issues included the capacity of the limestone bedrock to support plant facilities and the evaluation of solution cavities in the limestone bedrock. Haley & Aldrich determined that the limestone bedrock would require ground improvement to be suitable for support of plant components. A grouting program of over 75,000 lf of grout borehole was developed and implemented to provide adequate support for mat foundations and spread footings. During construction, removal of unsuitable materials from large solution cavities at ground surface and subsequent placement of lean concrete fill provided ground stabilization.