Costa Rica bans hydroelectric projects on 2 rivers for 25 years

The Pacuare River is a popular tourist destination. (Anjum Malkana / Flickr)

August 31st ,2015 (EFE) President Luis Guillermo Solis has issued an executive order banning the development of hydroelectric power plants along Costa Rica’s Pacuare and Savegre rivers for the next 25 years.

The environmental protection measure covers power projects with a generating capacity equal to or greater than 500 kilovolts to keep the rivers clean and free of barriers.

The goal is to protect natural resources, such as rivers, in accordance with the 2015-2030 National Energy Plan, the executive order said.

Officials selected the Pacuare, located in the Caribbean region, and the Savegre, which flows into an estuary on the Pacific, because of their important ecosystems, environmental value, pristine condition, economic importance and social value.

“Costa Rica’s development must take into account energy, environmental, economic and social factors. For the state, it is essential to manage the use of natural resources, but also their protection; therefore, it is important to make decisions that allow us to maintain this balance,” Solis said in a statement.

The Pacuare River is a model for tourism industry development, especially adventure travel, while the Savegre River is home to one of Costa Rica’s most environmentally diverse basins, where 47 different ecosystems have been identified.

The executive order suspends work on new hydroelectric power projects being considered by the National Water Administration and the Environmental Technical Secretariat.

Development rights acquired prior to the issuance of the executive order, however, are not affected.