BACONGO, a coalition of Belizean environmental groups had submitted a
petition to the Privy Council, to place an injunction on construction
of the dam until the legality of the environmental impact assessment
(EIA), by UK firm AMEC, could be determined.
The Privy Council, which acts as the Supreme Court of Belize, announced
that a ruling on the injunction would be made in August, and a full
appeal hearing would be held in December.
Craig Bennett, Corporate Campaigner for Friends of the Earth, told
edie: “It is very good news that this appeal will finally be heard, but
people in Belize should not have to resort to legal action to protect
their wildlife.”
Environmentalists say the dam will only provide a fraction of the
electricity the country needs but destroy the habitat of many
endangered species, and subject communities downstream to the risk of
dam collapse and water pollution.

Probe International, part of the BACONGO coalition, found the
EIA by AMEC to be, “both inaccurate and incomplete‚Äù, saying that it
“lacked the information on which to provide an assuredly satisfactory
and safe structure”.
It is also alleged that AMEC played down the findings of an assessment
by scientists from the Natural History Museum, which stated that the
dam would cause irreparable harm to a number of rare animals and their
habitats.
AMEC denies both claims.
Lawyers for the Belize Government and Belize Electricity Ltd (BEL)
argued that the Chalillo project was of public interest and should be
allowed to proceed. They also argued that BACONGO was not entitled to
an injunction as the group would be unable to pay for losses if the
legal action was unsuccessful.
The dam, owned by Fortis, a Canadian utility, is estimated to cost
US$30 million and produce 5.3 megawatts of electricity. If these
estimates are true, it will be the most expensive electricity in South
America.