The new Minister of Environment and Energy in Costa Rica is opposed to the Diquís project, which the state electricity company has been promoting for ten years, and which consists of building a hydroelectric generation plant in Puntarenas.
While the new leaders of the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE) announced their intention to refloat the project, which due to unconstitutionality appeals filed against it has remained on paper for years, the Ministry of Environment and Energy has declared its opposition, stating that "... there are no studies or other assessments on the social and economic impact that justify the declaration of national convenience given to the project a decade ago."
A story that has now been going on for twenty years could be resumed with the adoption of a legal framework to be used to consult with the natives living in the area where the 650 MW plant would be built.
EDITORIAL
Finally, there is a legal framework to start once and for all the "intercultural dialogue" that is needed to give the green light to the construction of one of the most important hydroelectric projects for the future energy supply of the country.
In Costa Rica a 650 MW hydropower project in which $129 million has already been invested, has made no progress in 20 years, pending an "intercultural dialogue" which has not even begun.
EDITORIAL
The problem is not that infrastructure is to be built in indigenous territories without dialogue . Nor it is that the dialogue is fruitless. A conflict has not even arisen.
The great hydroelectric project in southern Costa Rica, is back on the discussion table, with debate centering around the necessary vision on future energy supply versus the strong opposition by indigenous and environmentalist groups.
An article on Crhoy.com reports that "... from 1990-2006, electricity demand grew at an average annual rate of 5.5%." Since then the growth rate of energy demand has declined, and now matches the pace of the slowing economy, being negative.
In Costa Rica the high electricity rates are driving out foreign investment while indigenous opposition impedes progress of the construction of a 650 MW hydroelectric power plant.
It is time that the region starts to balance conservation policies with the needs of development so as to allow an escape from poverty for those who are currently held down by it and who at the same time are holding the rest of society hostage.
Delays in the construction of the large hydropower projects and increases in their costs are making the future level of electricity tariffs unpredictable.
Elfinancierocr.com reports that "The Association of Major Power Consumers (Acograce) and the Chamber of Industries (CIRC) believe it is time for the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) to improve and streamline their internal processes, which because of their slowness and bureaucracy, is costing the country many millions. "
The ICE has presented to Panamanian investors plans to build a dam on the river Reventazón and on the Diquis .
The two hydro projects, which together make an investment total of $3000 million were promoted by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) at the IX Investor Forum in Panama.
Both projects are in the stages of final negotiations with private investors, among whom is the Chinese company Sinohydro and the Brazilian Electrobras.
Complaints by indigenous natives from the El Diquís area are jeopardizing the project.
The native peoples in the area where the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) intends to develop a mega hydroelectric power generation say their land has been usurped without right.
For its part, the ICE assures that for the time being they are only performing exploratory excavations and are not constructing as some representatives of the group of indigents have claimed.
The Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) must expropriate 1.500 lots to build hydroelectric power plant El Diquis in the south of the country.
ICE will have to disburse $60 million to purchase lots and relocate nearby populations. This accounts for 3% of the entire cost of the project, estimated at $2.000 million.
“El Diquis is ICE’s largest energy project”, reports Nacion.com, “it will output 630 MW when ready in December 2016”.
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