Reservior for hydro plant

To enhance the output of the Mollejon Hydro-electric Plant and continue with the second phase of the Macal River Hydro-electric Project, the government is currently examining engineering and environmental studies of the area to determine the best location for a holding reservoir. One portion of the river which had been considered was the Rubber Camp area, but according to Norris Hall, Public Relations Officer for the Macal River Chalillo Project, studies indicate that the lower Chalillo area of the river may be more suitable. The feasibility study being conducted and the need for the reservoir were the topics of a meeting held this week in San Ignacio. B.E.L.’s Joseph Sooknandan spoke about how the reservoir will help the company provide cheaper electricity and Norris Hall discussed the project.

Joseph Sooknandan, B.E.L.

“The facility that we are building is to provide some form of regulation to the Mollejon Plant. The regulation that we are trying to achieve is between the hours of 6 and 10 o’clock at night to be able to use the water from the Chalillo into the Mollejon to generate anywhere between twenty and twenty five megawatts which is the capacity of the Mollejon Plant. The reason for that is because there is the massive usage of electricity occurs between 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock. The second consideration is that there is a severe penalty in purchasing power from Mexico between 6 and 10 o’clock.”

Norris Hall, P.R. Officer, M.R.C.P.

“The proposal is to build a new dam at Chalillo along with 2 power houses and turbine generators with a maximum generating capacity of 6.3 megawatts. This is necessary to ensure maximum output from the Mollejon Hydro-electric Dam so as to make the original investment viable. This was a part of the original blueprint for this hydro project. The Government of Belize is committed to promoting the construction of this dam and power houses following dialogue and consultation with the population at large.”

The reservoir is intended to provide the Mollejon Plant with a steady supply of water during the dry season which will allow the plant to produce much more electricity at a lower cost. According to Hall, three factors are being considered at this point by the government: the environmental impact and ways to mitigate possible effects of the reservoir, the economic impact on the nation and the social implications such as attracting more industries, reducing electricity rates and creating employment opportunities. The project is expected to cost about forty million Belize dollars and financing options are still being examined.