BEL says new study endorses Chalillo Project

Belize Electricity Limited has released the findings of a General Electric International Power systems study to determine the most favorable electricity generation option to meet Belize’s growing energy needs. The study recommends that BEL pursue the hydro expansion at Chalillo with the construction of the dam and powerhouse upstream of the Mollejon. With Belize’s energy needs expected to double by the year 2012, energy supply manager Derek Davis says the project is the most economic move for BEL.

Derek Davis, BEL Supply Manager

” We looked at bagasse, we looked at like I said, all the diesel technologies, we looked at gas turbines, we looked even looked at gas turbines even using natural gas etc. But because of our load and the relative size, those things aren’t really economic as yet for us in effect, the least cost, the cheapest way to supply our demand is one of them being to develop the Chalillo project further. If it has adverse environmental effects of course we wouldn’t do it.”

If the project gets the go ahead, Belize’s energy demand would be supplied by Chalillo along with the Mollejon dam project, diesel generators and electricity bought from Mexico. Davis says the environmental impact assessment of the project, done by the Canadian Company, Monenco AGRA, should be available early next month. Monenco AGRA was the same company that did the first analysis of the Mollejon project in 1990. The 2,000 page GE report has not been made public as yet.