Minister of NEMO threatens to shut down Chalillo Dam
The color change that occurred in the Macal River over a month ago is stirring up not only silt but the ire of Melvin Hulse, Minister of Public Utilities and NEMO. Hulse made some critical statements over the airwaves this morning that he would shut down a valve at Chalillo which would abruptly cease the dam’s entire operation. The trouble began when environmentalists from Cayo sent the media pictures of the turbid and murky waters released from the dam into the Macal River. That forced the Ministries of Health and Environment to hold a joint press conference on August twenty first during which they advised Cayo residents not to swim in the river and advised them to treat it before use. Though testing of the water is incomplete, Hulse wants to cut BECOL’s water supply short. But BECOL’s Vice president of Operations Stephen Usher says shutting down Chalillo can adversely impact the country’s power supply and flood control at the dam.
Stephen Usher, Vice President of Operations, BECOL
“What he said was that the intention was to close off the valve that we use to meet our environmental regulations. And also to shut down the power plant which is supplying four megawatts to the grid. So shutting those two down is basically shutting down the Chalillo operation. Then the water would rise behind the dam and flow over the overflow spillway. So basically the water passing through the dam, there would be no water passing through the dam and it would be going over the top.”
Jose Sanchez
“And there is no way to determine how fast or the quantity of water or gallons of water that is going be pushed over, right?”
Stephen Usher
“Well that depends on the inflow. Whatever flow is coming in would basically go over the top.”
Jose Sanchez
“Would that be a very dangerous maneuver to do to lock off the valve?”
Stephen Usher
“Well it would be dangerous in the event that if we had the plant shut down we’ll keep a large storage. So, if any heavy rains come in, or any flood that come into the reservoir, it will go directly over the dam on its way to San Ignacio. So, basically what you are looking at is there would be no flood control at all.”
Jose Sanchez
“But BECOL is a power generating business, what would that mean for your revenues and power that would have normally gone to B.E.L.?”
Stephen Usher
“Well, definitely we would lose revenue because the shutting down Chalillo means that we would be losing four megawatts of power from Chalillo. Now, closing off Chalillo’s output at the valve would directly affect the Mollejon plant downstream. So therefore, Mollejon’s output production would be significantly reduced as well. If you’re looking at the discoloration in the water, currently the water flowing through the Chalillo dam is clear. The suspended sediments that was behind the dam has now passed through.”
Jose Sanchez
“Is the reason for this potential closure because of the silt? Are they saying there is something still wrong with it? Does it have bacteria? What is the reason?”
Stephen Usher
“Well, the information, what I gathered from he interview this morning, it was due to the sediments that is passing through the dam. So, if you stop passing water through the dam and take it from the top, then the objective is to get clear water. But we are saying now that it has cleared. There is clear water passing through the dam. There is no real need to shut down Chalillo.”
Jose Sanchez
“If they would shut it down what is BECOL prepared to do? Is it willing to take the matter to court?”
Stephen Usher
“Well, right now its premature to make that decision because it is only a statement made by the minister in a talk show this morning. We have not gotten any official statement or anything in writing. So we are operating as normal.”
Jose Sanchez
“Has the minister contacted you since he made those statements?”
Stephen Usher
“No.”
News Five has been unable to reach Minister Hulse for comment. We will have more on this story as it develops.
