Nicaragua expects U.S. not to veto canal project

The Government of Nicaragua sees the Canal as "a major engineering project for the country." The environmental organizations think of it as an ugly scar on the map to punish the people and the ecosystem. The Nicaragua Canal, the pharaonic project that aims to unite the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by halving the Central American nation, has raised a firestorm of criticism even before it begins. Thus, Francisco Telemaco Talavera, spokesman for the Interoceanic Canal and adviser to President Daniel Ortega, gave a presentation, in which he showed videos, numbers and a power point presentation, at the Casa America de Madrid to calm down detractors of the project.

Nicaragua has fallen prey to the Chinese money. The HKND Company, headed by Wang Jing, will be in charge of the Canal’s construction and manage it for 100 years. The project’s budget amounts to $50 billion dollars (10 times more than the expansion of the Panama Canal) and includes the construction of two ports, an airport, a shopping area, and seven tourist resorts.

In the face of such huge business and possible profit that the huge traffic of goods could represent (almost 9,000 ships and $4.2 billion in revenue per year, according to the Government), Nicaragua expects the United States doesn’t veto the Canal. "What is America saying? We're no longer in the Cold War. China and the US are interdependent. In economic terms there is a real pragmatism beyond political differences, "said Telemaco; "The Canal will have European and American investment. China's investment is an opportunity for US companies. Nicaragua will not be a military base for China or Russia. The channel is a commercial investment for the whole world. Even Roberta Jacobson, Secretary of State, said there was no risk, that it was a business opportunity."

The Nicaraguan Government clarified that the Chinese would manage the work, but that they wouldn’t build the Canal. “The construction will be open for all companies. The works have not been assigned,"said Telemaco, restating that it was an opportunity for US companies to look favourably on the Canal and make a profit.

The Canal will be 278 miles long, 105 of which are in the Lake of Nicaragua, a jewel of nature that, according to conservation organizations, will be endangered. "The route that was designed wasn’t the cheapest route. It is the one that has less social impact, as it affects fewer people and no significant city, and has a smaller environmental impact. The channel will only pass over less than 1% of the lake. The route was adjusted to avoid affecting the wetlands and the ports will respect the mangroves and the indigenous people. The channel will have a positive environmental impact. By reducing the path of ships, we will reduce emissions of harmful gases "said Telemaco. The government said it will negotiate the expropriated land at a fair price, and that the Canal’s construction would create 50,000 jobs immediately: 50% of which would be devoted for the national population, and 25% for the Chinese workers.

The Panama Canal allows the passage of ships with 4,000 containers. Nicaragua’s Canal would allow the passage of the new Triple-E ships, which can have up to 18,000 containers. "We deserve it and the world needs it," said Telemaco. The government is now waiting for the U.S. to pronounce themselves.

Source: EL PAIS