Latin American Newsletters

October 31, 2001

Belizean Prime Minister Said Musa says decision to build a second hydroelectric dam on Belize’s Macal River is the responsibility of Fortis, the Canadian company behind the project.

The decision over the controversial project to build a second hydroelectric dam on Belize’s Macal River is the responsibility of the Canadian company behind the project, Belizean Prime Minister Said Musa says. After an initial study into the viability of the scheme, which is expected to generate 5 megawatts of power, a more detailed environmental-impact assessment was commissioned. The British team which carried the subsequent study concluded that it would be detrimental to wildlife, including breeding populations of Belize’s national animal, the Baird’s tapir, if the dam was to be built. A Belizean panel of experts, the Neac, is yet to make public its opinion of the report even though the 30-day deadline expired at the end of September. In an about turn, Musa, who was earlier reported to have said he would halt the plan if the EIA found that the project would damage the environment, said that he was satisfied that the dam would not cause too much damage. The final decision would come from Stanley Marshall, CEO of Canada’s Fortis, which owns a controlling stake in the Belize Electricity Company, he said. Fortis has said that it hopes to commence work in January despite claims from Belizean and international groups that the dam would flood an area deemed to be of special scientific interest. If the project goes ahead, Fortis will own and operate the dam until it reverts to Belize in 2031, said Mr Musa. Latin American Newsletters is available at www.latinnews.com