The BACONGO statement says:“Fortis wants Belizeans to feel sorry for them. Fortis with 2008 revenues in the billions and net profits in the hundreds of millions (see www.fortis.ca), this foreign owned Canadian corporation that owns BEL and its sister company, BECOL (Belize Electric Company Limited), says it’s not making enough from Belize and that our electricity rates should be higher.

“If things worked the way they should, BEL would buy the least expensive power it could. However, Fortis (not BEL, but Fortis) makes ITSELF more money by having BEL buy energy from BECOL, which actually operates Chalillo and Mollejon Dams.


“While BEL and its rates are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), BECOL is not regulated so it can charge BEL anything it wants for the power it sells to BEL.


“Here are comparison energy rates to consider, -rates from our Central American neighbors and not from the Caribbean islands. These are AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL RATES computed into Belizean cents per kilowatt hour:


Mexico: 0.12/kw

Honduras: 0.18/kw

Guatemala: 0.40/kw

Costa Rica: 0.16 kw

Nicaragua: 0.28/kw
Belize: 0.42/kw


In the earlier days of energy analyses in Belize, independent consultants showed that negotiations with CFE, in neighboring Mexico, provided the cheapest, most reliable source of energy. This assessment was based on long-term contracts for natural gas and diesel fuel, not on purchasing on- the- spot market. But, those promoting the dam projects said that “only Chalillo would bring us security”.


“We doubt that people are feeling very secure right now.


“BEL passes on to us what it has to pay BECOL for electricity, INCLUDING the costs associated with building the dams, whether they function properly or not.


On June 25, 2009, BECOL’S Stephen Usher stated, on LOVE FM’s “Belize Watch” program that Fortis’ investment in BECOL was three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000). No one can doubt that amount is included in what they charge for power.


What is also passed on to Belizeans is the lack of any emergency evacuation plan or warning system.


The lives of thousands of people living downstream of the Chalillo Dam will be seriously threatened if the dam breaks or we have a dam-related flood


And what about earthquakes?


Chalillo is built on an earthquake fault line that Fortis first tried to hide and then later claimed was irrelevant because Belize is not subject to earthquake activity.


Unfortunately, it seems that Belize IS subject to earthquakes - such as the 7.4 earthquake that hit Honduras and impacted the country on 28 May of this year! Where is the “responsible voice” of foreign-owned BEL/BECOL on this particular aspect of the Chalillo Dam?

Belizeans are suspicious of and seriously concerned about the safety issues surrounding the Chalillo Dam.

“High-priced energy, high risk dam profile, and degraded natural resources. This is what foreign-owned BEL and BECOL have provided Belize.

“We continue to applaud the PUC for its steadfast monitoring and regulation of this power company.

“The real question we have to ask is why Belizeans keep paying more than anyone else in the region for energy, and the fact that no matter how much you pay, Fortis will want more.

“We say Fortis/BEL will never be satisfied, and maybe we are better off without them.

Submitted by the Belize Alliance of Conservation NGOs (BACONGO).