The plant is located on the Coca River, on the border between Ecuador’s Napo and Sucumbios provinces.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Quito said, "We ask Chinese companies to reflect on this event, learn from this painful lesson, take appropriate measures, and increase safety to better protect Chinese and Ecuadorian workers.

The USD 2bn contract for the 1,500MW plant was awarded in 2009. Under terms of the deal with Ecuador, Sinohydro financed 85 percent of the cost. Ecuador financed the remaining 15 percent through oil sales to China.

Commercial operation should begin in 2016, providing 8.63GWh/year. That equated to 44 per cent of Ecuadorian energy needs at the signing of the contract.