BEL holds forum on Challilo
The Challilo Dam. The words conjure up different images for different people. For some, it represents a more efficient way to reduce the cost of electricity. Others envision the flooding of part of the Belizean rainforest. The arguments on both sides are rich in conviction–and emotion–and each claims they have scientific data to back them up. Today, Belize Electricity Limited, BEL, held a public forum with key members of their project team to answer questions about the proposed dam. The concerns came fast and furious.
Audience member #1
“Will be affected, there will be impacts in this area. What that means, to me, is that…the plants will die, the animals will die, the fish will die. See, they don’t want to use words like die, right, because die isn’t a very nice word to use when you are trying to get across to the public.”
Company representative, BEL
“I think most people do understand that when I say impact, I mean it’s an adverse impact. The other issues of course, is that, with respect to the archeological sites and the habitat, both plant and animal behind the reservoir is going to be flooded, I mean what other word can I use.”
Audience Member #2
“I would like to comment though, that I find it alarming as a member of the business community that we have not heard the role that the Ministry of the Natural Resources and Environment is playing in this consultation process. I would also like to know when BEL will begin that study on the impact of Challilo on wildlife and what that study will cost and how you will be funding those cost? I would like to comment as a member of the business community that it is clear to us here today, that both sides, the environmentalist and the electric company, need a lot more time to discuss these critical issues that have been raised here today. And perhaps your seminar should have been for a full day, as you have long exceeded your period.”
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
The faces in the audience were students, NGO representatives, journalists, members of the business community and average citizens. But despite their differences in backgrounds, they all wanted to know more about Challilo, a proposed dam and power plant on the Macal River, several miles upstream from the existing hydro facility at Mollejon. Built in 1995, Mollejon has never lived up to its promised potential, largely due to unanticipated low flows in the river. The Belize Electricity Limited, BEL, says Challilo will help Mollejon produce more power at a lower price. But the project would also mean flooding about 3.5 square miles of forest to serve as a reservoir behind the dam.
Daedra Isaacs, Executive Dir., BACONGO
“The reputation of Mollejon is what has people scared, the thing was built to produce a certain amount of electricity, it never did. It was built to say it can withstand any wet season Belize can produce, any flood that can come on that river…after the very first wet season, it had a bad history. And again, it seems that some of the same mistakes that was made before, are being made again. Some of the questions that were there before are here again and some of the shortage of information that were there before, are there again. And so we ask, how can you have an assurances?”
Lynn Young, CEO, BEL
“The question was what guarantee can we give that this is going to work better than the last one? And I said to a large extent that guarantee depends on the Duke, who owns the present plant, and how that development goes about.”
The Challilo project will cost an estimated twenty-five to thirty million US dollars and will mean BEL will also have to complete negotiations with Duke International, principle owner of Mollejon. Local NGOs are not the only ones protesting the project. Robert Watson, a director of the International Energy Program for the Natural Resources Defense Council, a U.S. based agency, feels the environmental price is too high for Belize, and the rest of the world, to pay.
Rob Watson, Director, International Energy Program for the Natural Resources Defense Council
“We believe that the Macal River basin does not just belong to Belize. There are animals and ecosystems that are no where else on the planet and as such really should be treated as a global resource and really something sacred…only under the “direst” of circumstances should be even considered for development. In our estimation those kinds of dire circumstances are no where to be found.
Clearly, what is most at Belize’s interest is to have a diverse energy portfolio. They do have, already, some hydro resources and so it’s time to look at other resources that have lower environmental impact, lower cost and more prospects for the economy of Belize.”
But BEL maintains that the new dam, out of all the other alternatives, like diesel engines, bio-mass and combustion turbines, has less of an environmental impact. And will mean a higher reduction in cost, which Young says translates into smaller numbers on your electricity bill.
Lynn Young
“It’s a question of trade offs. Right now what we are seeing is that Challilo could give us the extra energy for Mollejon at a very good price and I suppose what is driving the argument here is whether it’s worth the environmental price.
Challilo is part of our long term strategies to reduce our cost and as I explained, the new regulations that are being put in place, means that whenever we reduce our cost of power supply, it’s passed directly through to customers.”
Daedra Isaacs
“There’s a difference between financial viability and economic viability. It may be profitable for them to go into the thing because no matter what, Belizeans will buy the electricity from them. It’s our sole electricity company so that from basis, they will recover their costs, but we the consumer will pay, it’s not economically viable for us.”
Lynn Young maintains that Challilo is not a “done deal” but says right now, it is an option, “worth exploring”.
Janelle Chanona
So bottom line, the Challilo project is the best thing for the Belizean consumer?
Lynn Young
“At this point we feel so.”
Janelle Chanona for News Five.
However, in response to questions raised by participants today, BEL admitted that their environmental impact assessment report, released earlier this month, is still incomplete. Specifically it is still missing assessments of the dam’s effect on wildlife in the area and the social impact for communities living along the river. These are required under the law governing the submission of EIA’s. Next Wednesday BACONGO will hold their own public forum at the Radisson. They invited both BEL and BECOL to be a part of the panel.
