This Spanish-language blog post by the Fundacion Solon discusses the status of four planned mega-dams in Bolivia: Chepete, El Bala, Rositas and Cachuela Esperanza. According to Fundacion Solon, these four projects show: a) high environmental impact in at least six protected areas that are megabiodiverse, b) significant social impact on thousands of people who will be displaced without having carried out to date consultation processes for prior, free and informed consent, c) unprecedented indebtedness in the country's history to produce energy at a cost that is not internationally competitive, and d) great business opportunity for Chinese construction companies, Chinese foreign banks, consulting companies, supervisors and authorities involved in the different phases of these megaprojects.
El Bala and Chepete already have the following documentation: an Identification Study that defines their location –study that was carried out by the Italian consultant Geodata-, the Environmental Data Sheets and a Preinvestment Technical Design Study (EDTP) that It is under development and includes a) the final design of both hydroelectric plants, b) the EEIA and the “public consultation” of different stakeholders and c) the preparation of the Terms of Reference for the international tender for the construction of both hydroelectric plants.
To date, El Bala and Chepete hydroelectric plants do not have environmental licenses because they have not concluded or submitted their respective EEIAs, they have not carried out the corresponding free and informed consultations in advance with indigenous peoples and affected populations, nor do they have contracts of export or agreements of intention to purchase the electricity they would generate.