The Costa Rican government declared Wednesday the construction of a new hydroelectric plant was of “national convenience and public interest”, and that it would bring the country closer to its goal of producing 100 per cent of its electricity from renewable energy sources.

The decree was endorsed by President Oscar Arias and the ministers of the branch, who specified the new plant will utilize the waters of the Río General, the river which travels through cantons in the Southern Pacific region.
The plant will have the capacity to add 630 megawatts to the country’s capacity and the construction- which will begin in January of next year-is estimated to cost $1.85 billion, said Pedro Quiros, the executive President of the country’s energy giant Institurto Costarricense de Electricidad(ICE).
After signing the decree, President Arias noted the annual increase in demand for electricity is at six per cent, meaning that in 11 years demand would double, “and we have to be able to generate that electricity as the population increases.”