$1.4 billion in Guatemalan hydro projects held up

At least 16 hydroelectric projects in Guatemala are being held up by social conflicts, according to the country's National Association of Reneable Energy Generators.

The projects that are on hold amount to investments of $1.4 billion and a power capacity of 480 megawatts.

Of the total, five of the projects have simply been abandoned. At least eight are on hold, one project is being reviewed in consultation with an indigenous group, another is involved in a dialogue and yet another has been suspended by the Constitutional Court.