Vajont dam site faces new hydroelectric project proposal

A new proposal for a hydroelectric plant at the site of the Vajont dam has reignited debate regarding energy development, economic benefits, and historical memory. The project, presented by the company Welly Red, involves constructing a plant in the territory of Erto e Casso.

The plan aims to utilize water flowing through the discharge tunnel of the residual lake formed after the Monte Toc landslide. The project involves an estimated investment of 12 million euros, with a nominal power of approximately 1.8 megawatts and an expected annual production of 13 GWh. The facility would be built primarily in a cavern at the base of the gorge, with water being returned to the stream via a vertical conduit.

The proposal is sensitive due to the 1963 Vajont disaster, where a massive landslide into the artificial reservoir triggered a wave that killed 1,917 people and devastated towns like Longarone. This history has created divided opinions between local municipalities such as Erto e Casso and Longarone, as stakeholders weigh modern energy needs against the symbolic and historical significance of the site.