Court says Chalillo can proceed

Word out of the Supreme Court is that the Chalillo Hydroelectric project now has a green light to proceed. A release from BECOL, the company that proposes to build the plant, says that Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh today ruled that the National Environmental Appraisal Committee and Department of the Environment did follow proper procedures in approving Chalillo’s Environmental Impact Assessment. The lawsuit had been filed by the Belize Alliance of Conservation N.G.O.’s, BACONGO, and had blocked the construction of the facility that BECOL’s parent company, Belize Electricity Limited, says the country badly needs to keep up with demand for power. It is expected that despite any appeal that may be lodged by BACONGO, B.E.L. will commence construction in the near future, once a court ordered public hearing on the project is held.