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How it should look: Artist’s impression of the dam

Campaigners say several rare species rely on the local habitat

The UK’s Privy Council has dismissed attempts by environmentalists
to block construction of a controversial dam project in the jungles of
Belize.

The committee, the highest appeal court for the central
American Commonwealth country, did not accept the Chalillo dam would
threaten rare species.

The challenge to the building of the 50-metre (165-foot) high
Chalillo dam is being brought by the Belize Association of
Non-governmental Organisations (Bacongo).

The dam’s backers say it is the most economic option for Belize, and will lessen its reliance on Mexican energy.

Two out of the five judges hearing the case disagreed with the council ruling.

The challenge over the 50-metre (165-foot) high Chalillo dam
was brought by the Belize Association of Non-governmental Organisations
(Bacongo).

They claimed its approval was unlawful due to inadequate
assessment of the environmental impact and mistakes about the rock on
which it will be built.

They believe its power output will not be worthwhile and say Belize’s energy demands can be met in other ways.

It asked the council to overturn the Belizean government’s
approval of the dam, and order studies of its safety and impacts, with
construction halted in the meantime.

Campaigners say several rare species rely on the local habitat

Functions of the Privy Council – one of the oldest parts of the
British Government machine – include a final court of appeal for
Commonwealth countries that have chosen to retain it.

The dam is being built on the Upper Macal River, one of the
largest undisturbed areas of wilderness in central America, by Becol, a
Belizean subsidiary of a Canadian multinational, Fortis Inc.

Bacongo says the environmental impact assessment of the dam, by the
London firm Amec, was seriously flawed.

It argued: