The president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, offered investors from China on Monday the project to build an interoceanic canal through the Central American country, this time with a new route in which, instead of crossing Lake Cocibolca, it would pass through Lake Xolotlán. .
The president presented the new route during the XVII China-Latin America and the Caribbean Business Summit, which is being held in the Nicaraguan capital with the participation of 250 Chinese businessmen and 70 delegates from different Latin American countries.
In his presentation, Ortega said that the Panama Canal is presenting problems with the water in terms of its fluidity, “that is, the capacity for ships to pass through,” which makes maritime transit slower and that many ships have to wait for days with products and merchandise, “and there is no alternative.”
«There should be an alternative and we have the alternative here in Nicaragua and I show it to you there. (…) These are studies that have been done for a long time and there is a shorter route that passes through the lake (Xolotlán or Managua),” he indicated.
The new route would start from a port that would be built in Bluefields, capital of the Autonomous Region of the Southern Caribbean Coast, would pass through the central part of Nicaragua, through Lake Xolotlán, and would leave through the Corinto port, on the Pacific.
Ortega assures that there are US investors “interested”
“You – addressing the Chinese businessmen – know that every day the passage through Panama is more complicated and well, this is the alternative,” he insisted.
In Ortega’s opinion, “even North American businessmen would be interested in investing in that canal, because they do enormous business and need fluid transit through the maritime routes.”
Ortega made this announcement on the same day that the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IDC) condemned the State of Nicaragua for violating various rights of indigenous peoples within the framework of the interoceanic canal project that would be developed by a Chinese company, of which carried out prior consultation with the communities or environmental studies.
Last May, the Sandinista regime, with the approval of the parliament that is under its total control, revoked the concession to build the canal to the company Hong Kong Nicaragua Canal Development (HKND) Group, of the controversial Chinese investor Wang Jing, which would include two ports, including Bluefields.
Nicaragua’s old dream of building an interoceanic canal that would allow the passage of large ships between the Caribbean and the Pacific, as well as the project to build deep-water ports – which have not taken off after 12 years – are now in the hands of the State, and, according to opponents, Ortega will offer it to his new ally: the People’s Republic of China.
Failed project crossed the Great Lake
The first canal project promoted by Ortega was approved by the Sandinista majority in Parliament on July 3, 2012, and a year later the construction and administration concession was delivered to the company HKND Group for a period of 50 years, extendable for another 50 years. However, it was revoked 12 years later.
The canal through Nicaragua, announced as “the largest civil engineering project in the history” of humanity, would link the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean, cross the south of the country from east to west, with a wet route 278 kilometers long. .
The canal, whose width would be between 230 meters and 520 meters, with a depth of up to 30 meters, will start from the Pacific coast of Brito, in the southwest of Nicaragua, and will reach the mouth of the Punta Gorda river, in the Caribbean, after crossing the Great Lake in 105 kilometers, according to the official plan.
Ortega, who has recognized that it was not the Sandinistas who had the idea of this wet route, but that it was the Americans and the British since the mid-19th century, has not given up on that old dream, whose viability continues to be questioned by environmentalists, opponents and by the numbers.
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What specific steps can Nicaragua take to ensure transparency and accountability in any future partnerships for the canal project, learning from the experience of the revoked concession to the Hong Kong Nicaragua Canal Development Group?
## Reviving a Dream: An Interview on Nicaragua’s Interoceanic Canal
**Introduction:**
Welcome to “World Today News” where we delve into important global developments. Today, we’ll be discussing Nicaragua’s revived proposal for an interoceanic canal, a project fraught with both potential and controversy. Joining us are Dr. Amelia Ramirez, a renowned expert on infrastructure development in Latin America, and Mr. Javier Rodriguez, a Nicaraguan environmental activist.
**Section 1: Feasibility and Logistics**
* **Dr. Ramirez, the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, has pitched a new route for the interoceanic canal, bypassing Lake Cocibolca and opting for Lake Xolotlán. What are your initial thoughts on this revised strategy? What logistical challenges might arise with this new route?**
* **Mr. Rodriguez, how do you assess the feasibility of this project, considering Nicaragua’s political and economic landscape? What concerns do you have regarding the potential environmental impact?**
**Section 2: International Relations and Investment**
* **Dr. Ramirez, President Ortega has stated that Chinese investors are showing interest in the project. How might this development affect regional dynamics and relationships between Nicaragua, China, and the United States?
**
* **Mr. Rodriguez, the article mentions that Ortega previously revoked the concession granted to Hong Kong Nicaragua Canal Development Group. What lessons should be learned from this past experience, and how can Nicaragua ensure transparency and accountability in any future partnerships?**
**Section 3: Environmental Concerns and Indigenous Rights**
* **Mr. Rodriguez, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights recently condemned Nicaragua for violating indigenous peoples’ rights in the initial canal project. How can Nicaragua ensure that the rights of indigenous communities are respected this time around, particularly those living near Lake Xolotlán?**
* **Dr. Ramirez, the canal project has been a point of contention for environmentalists. What are the potential ecological ramifications of constructing a canal through Nicaragua, and what mitigation measures should be considered?**
**Section 4: Economic Impact and Long-Term Vision**
* **Mr. Rodriguez, what are your thoughts on the projected economic benefits of the canal for Nicaragua? Are there alternative development strategies that might be more sustainable and beneficial for the country**
* **Dr. Ramirez, what is your long-term vision for the interoceanic canal project? Do you see it as a catalyst for economic growth and regional integration, or a potential source of further conflict and instability?**
**Conclusion:**
The proposed interoceanic canal in Nicaragua raises complex questions about development, environmental sustainability, and international relations. We hope this discussion has shed light on the multifaceted nature of this ambitious project and fostered a deeper understanding of its potential implications.
