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Costa Rica utility proposes compromise on development in national parks

Costa Rica utility proposes compromise on development in national parks Rincon de la Vieja volcano, Costa Rica (source: flickr/ Jelle H., creative commons)
Alexander Richter 24 Apr 2013

Costa Rica Electricity Institute (ICE) is proposing a compromise on geothermal development in the Rincón de la Vieja National Park, that would see a decrease in size of the area opened to development.

Local news from Costa Rica report that national utility Costa Rica Electricity Institute (ICE) is proposing a compromise on geothermal development in national parks in the country.

“Executive President President Teofilo de la Torre said ICE will resubmit a proposal to segregate 1,000 hectares of Rincón de la Vieja National Park, in the northwestern province of Guanacaste, to reduce the area of exploration and to implement an “eco-design” to minimize impact.

The proposal is considering a compromise with critical voices to the development plans and the opening of national parks for geothermal development in Costa Rica.

Last week, the utility and officials of the Ministry for the Environment highlighted the opportunities for geothermal development in the national parks of the country.

The Minister for the Environment has shown less flexibility on the proposed plans, despite the hot debate in the country.

Environmental groups are fighting the possibility to segregation of parts in the Rincón de la Vieja National Park, as it is feared it could provide a model to be used for other national parks in the country as well.

The debate on the legislature over segregation Bill 17,680 has been postponed on now several occasions and an end is not in sight.

The country puts big hopes into geothermal, as water shortages have proven to limit power production from hydroelectric plants in Costa Rica. The country depends mostly on hydro power.

Apart from being able to cover water shortages, geothermal would also provide power from local resources without the fluctuations in prices that would be there due to use of fossil fuels.

The volcanic areas in Costa Rica, mostly in national parks, are providing a great opportunity for future electricity supply through geothermal plants.

In general, it seems conservationists are not generally opposed to geothermal development in the Rincón de la Vieja National Park, but sees a need to do so in close connection with the goals of protection that national parks are supposed to provide.

The compromise now offered by ICE that would see a reduction in the size opened up for development, could prove useful in the debate and help move development forward.

Lawmaker José María Villalta, a member of the legislative Energy and Environment Commission, called for a national discussion on the geothermal energy issue. “This project will only be possible if we achieve a national agreement first on how to harmonize two great themes for Costa Ricans: environmental protection and renewable energy generation, which will benefit the entire society,” Villalta said.

“The 11,000-hectare Rincón de la Vieja National Park along with the rest of the Guanacaste Conservation Area, has been declared by the United Nations a “World Heritage Site.”

Source: Tico Times