En marzo de 2011 se hace pública la concesión por 50 años a la empresa española Hidroxil S.A para la construcción de los proyectos hidroeléctricos la Vega I (38MW) y La Vega II (18.75). A pesar que todavía no han sido construidas ya cuentan con la autorización de la Comisión Nacional de Energía Eléctrica (CNEE) según los acuerdos 99-2011 y 244-2011 [1]. |
Conflict over construction of the La Vega I and La Vega II hydroelectric projects in the municipality of Nebaj, El Quiché, Guatemala. Without prior consultation to the local communities. Affecting directly more than ten indigenous communities.
Description
Basic Data
| Name | La Vega I & II Hydroelectric projects, Nebaj, Guatemala |
| Country | Guatemala |
| Province | El Quiché |
| Site | Nebaj |
| Accuracy of Location | MEDIUM regional level |
Source of Conflict
| Type of Conflict (1st level) | Water Management |
| Type of Conflict (2nd level) | Water access rights and entitlements Dams and water distribution conflicts |
| Specific Commodities | Land Electricity Water |
Project Details and Actors
| Project Details | Desde el año 2011 se concesionó a través del Acuerdo Ministerial 099-2011 el río Xacbal por 50 años, el punto llamado Suchun, intersección donde se juntan los ríos Chel y Xajal provenientes del territorio de Tzalbal y el río La Planta proveniente del pueblo de Nebaj. [3]. En dicho punto Suchun, planifican construir la presa llamada la Vega I que pretende tener una capacidad instalada de 40 MW. Además dicho proyecto contendrá dos salas de máquinas que se apropiarán de los ríos Sumala y Vicalama en donde construirán La Vega II con una capacidad instalada de 20 MW. Hidroxil realizó inversiones en más proyectos eléctricos, como la Hidroeléctrica El Recreo en Guatemala. |
| Level of Investment (in USD) | 45,000,000.00 |
| Type of Population | Rural |
| Potential Affected Population | 8,000 |
| Start Date | 06/03/2011 |
| Company Names or State Enterprises | Hidroxil S.A from Spain Grupo Casado from Spain |
| Relevant government actors | Corte de Constitucionalidad Corte Suprema de Justicia Ministerio de Energía y Minas |
| Environmental justice organisations and other supporters | Consejo de Autoridades Ancestrales Maya Ixil: https://www.facebook.com/boqolqesaltenam |
The Conflict and the Mobilization
| Intensity of Conflict (at highest level) | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| When did the mobilization begin | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
| Groups Mobilizing | Farmers Indigenous groups or traditional communities Social movements Ethnically/racially discriminated groups |
| Forms of Mobilization | Artistic and creative actions (eg guerilla theatre, murals) Development of a network/collective action Development of alternative proposals Involvement of national and international NGOs Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Media based activism/alternative media Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Street protest/marches Arguments for the rights of mother nature |
Impacts
| Environmental Impacts | Potential: Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity, Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Floods (river, coastal, mudflow), Food insecurity (crop damage), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Noise pollution, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems |
| Health Impacts | Potential: Accidents, Violence related health impacts (homicides, rape, etc..) , Health problems related to alcoholism, prostitution, Infectious diseases, Deaths |
| Socio-economic Impacts | Potential: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Displacement, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Militarization and increased police presence, Social problems (alcoholism, prostitution, etc..), Violations of human rights, Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place |
Outcome
| Project Status | Planned (decision to go ahead eg EIA undertaken, etc) |
| Pathways for conflict outcome / response | Criminalization of activists Repression Under negotiation |
| Do you consider this as a success? | No |
| Why? Explain briefly. | Goverment continues trying build the projects. |
Sources and Materials
| Legislations |
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Meta Information
| Contributor | Leonel Morales, Comisión de comunicación del Consejo de autoridades ancestrales Maya Ixil, [email protected] |
| Last update | 24/08/2017 |
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