The Government of Japan will allocate US$2 million in technical cooperation to develop a master plan that will define the works needed to reduce flooding in the Sula Valley, one of the regions of Honduras most exposed to river overflows and damage caused by rains.
The funds will not be used to directly build dams, dikes, or channels, but rather to finance the technical studies that will identify the most vulnerable areas, establish which projects should be executed first, and calculate the investment needed to carry out those interventions.
Fernando Vásquez, deputy minister of the Secretariat of Infrastructure and Transport (SIT), reported on the progress of the initiative during a meeting with representatives of Japanese cooperation and government officials.
The project began in 2024, and authorities expect the final document to be ready between June and July 2027. Based on its results, Honduran institutions will have a roadmap to organize the investments and protection works the region requires.
The Resilience Master Plan will evaluate different hydraulic infrastructure projects, including the construction and rehabilitation of dikes, relief channels, and the El Tablón and Tornillitos dams.
The purpose is to determine which of these interventions can help reduce the risk of flooding and establish an or…
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Japanese cooperation will fund the planning of the works, but not the direct construction of dams, dikes, or canals. (Photo: Presidential House)The Government of Japan will allocate US$2 million in technical cooperation to develop a master plan that will define the works needed to reduce flooding in the Sula Valley, one of the regions of Honduras most exposed to river flooding and damage caused by rains. The funds will not be used to directly build dams, dikes, or canals, but rather to finance the technical studies that will identify the most vulnerable areas, establish which projects should be executed first, and calculate the investment needed to carry out those interventions. Fernando Vásquez, deputy minister of the Secretariat of Infrastructure and Transport (SIT), reported on the progress of the initiative during a meeting with representatives of Japanese cooperation and government officials. The project began in 2024, and authorities expect the final document to be ready between June and July 2027. Based on its results, Honduran institutions will have a roadmap to organize the investments and protection works the region requires. The Resilience Master Plan will evaluate hydraulic infrastructure projects to reduce flood damage. (Photo: Presidential House)The Resilience Master Plan will evaluate different hydraulic infrastructure projects, including the construction and rehabilitation of dikes, relief channels, and the El Tablón and Tornillitos dams. The purpose is to determine which of these interventions can help reduce flood risk and establish an order of execution, taking into account the needs of communities and the conditions of the watershed. The study will also review the works currently underway, with the aim of identifying measures that can be developed before undertaking larger-scale projects. In this way, the document will establish short-, medium-, and long-term planning, with estimated timelines and financing needs for each intervention. The development of this plan seeks to prevent future works from being carried out in isolation and to enable institutions to have technical criteria for deciding where to invest available resources. The plan will be developed with the participation of the Center for the Study and Development of Sula Valley Projects. (Photo: Courtesy)The cooperation announced by Japan corresponds to the planning stage. The construction of the dams and other structures will depend on subsequent fundraising efforts and the availability of funds. The prioritization of projects will be carried out in coordination with the Center for the Study and Development of Sula Valley Projects, whose director, hydraulic engineer Osmín Bautista, highlighted the importance of the document for planning protection infrastructure. Bautista explained that this will be the second master plan developed for this region, after the 1976 study, which gave rise to the proposal to build the El Tablón dam. Updating the planning will make it possible to review the current needs of the Sula Valley and determine which works should be promoted to reduce communities' exposure to flooding. For his part, Kobayashi Chiaki, representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), reiterated his country's interest in supporting flood control measures in Honduras. Japan will contribute two million dollars in technical cooperation to develop a flood protection plan for the Sula Valley. (Photo: Presidential House)As part of this support, he announced that a mission of Japanese specialists will arrive in the country in January 2027 to share experiences related to the maintenance of dikes and other protection structures. The technical assistance will also allow for the exchange of knowledge on hydraulic infrastructure management, an important aspect to ensure that the works built can be kept in proper working condition. The Sula Valley concentrates communities, infrastructure, and productive activities that face risks during the rainy seasons, especially when river flows increase. With delivery expected in mid-2027, the Government hopes to have a technical plan that will serve as a basis for promoting future flood protection works in northern Honduras.