B.E.L. seeks approval for third dam on Macal River
But according to the electricity company, last night’s transmission break illustrates the vulnerability of Belize’s energy supply. In a press release issued today, Belize Electric Company Limited, BECOL, announced that it has submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Vaca Hydroelectric Project to the Department of Environment in Belmopan. BECOL Vice President of Operations Stephen Usher says Vaca is the third arm of investments in the Macal River Hydro Electric Scheme.
Stephen Usher, V.P., Operations BECOL
?The original scheme which was actually looked at in 1990, encompass three hydroelectric plants which are the: Challilo which is the top most plant, which basically is a storage facility. Challilo will store water and release down stream, which the second plant in existence right now is the Mollejon hydroelectric plant. And the third and final is the VACA.?
?This project is similar to Mollejon it?s a run of river project. So it encompasses a small reservoir, so basically what will happen is that the storage will be small. Whatever water comes in we will virtually release. The storage is for one day, a twenty-four hour period so it won?t have huge environmental impact due to size of reservoir.?
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
?I know a lot of people are still thinking about the blackout last night countrywide will we still have a vulnerable electricity supply when this project comes on stream??
Stephen Usher
?Well this project should help to eliminate that problem because we are looking at an additional eighteen megawatt to the grid right now. And with the current growth at six percent, if this project is approved and it goes through and is finalized or complete construction within the next two years that should add to the power generation in Belize, to make it more stable. So if we have future blackouts we should be in a better situation to sustain our own grid.?
If approved by D.O.E., Usher says work on the ground will begin as early as July. The Vaca site is located approximately three miles from the Mollejon Hydroelectric plant.
