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Guatemala's top power plant blocked by protest

Thursday, October 11, 2018


The Chicoy hydroelectric scheme, which at 281 megawatts houses Guatemala's biggest power plant, has been blockaded since late last month by a group of protesters who want compensation for alleged damages to lands, have seized the water outlet and threatened to burn it down.

Of Chicoy is taken out of operation, electricity tariffs will have to be increased by 10 percent, said Horacio Fernández, the head of the National Association of Generators.

Fernández said that other plants could be pressed into service. But during the dry season, other hydroelectric plans would not have enough capacity, while the alternatives would cost considerably more.