Construction Begins on Casa Blanca Dam in Peru's Arequipa Region

Construction of the Casa Blanca dam in the Yura river basin of Arequipa, Peru, has started under a S/ 151 million Obras por Impuestos (Oxi) financing scheme. The project is funded by Yura, Gloria, Interbank and La Tinka, with technical management by URBI Proyectos of Grupo Intercorp. The dam will store up to 7 million cubic metres of water, providing year‑round irrigation for an estimated 33 000 residents and supporting roughly 2 500 farmers. In its first phase it will serve 648 farming families in the Yura valley and 53 families in Cuarta Pampa, modernising more than 410 hectares with drip‑irrigation and sprinkler systems for high‑value crops such as grapes, pomegranate, pitahaya, tuna and passion‑fruit. The 84‑metre‑high, 135‑metre‑long structure creates a 33‑hectare reservoir, and the 36‑month construction schedule is expected to generate direct jobs and opportunities for local suppliers.