The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Marn) reported this Tuesday, July 7, on the temporary suspension of the activities of the Térmica SA Bunker-Diesel-Based Electric Power Generating Plant project.
He added that the project is located in Chimaltenango and that the suspension occurs “after detecting environmental non-compliance related to emissions, noise and odors.”
He stated that the environmental control and monitoring carried out in the area “confirm environmental contamination.”
According to Marn, there is air pollution with particulate matter and sulfur and nitrogen oxides, as a result of electricity generation with bunkers and diesel, “representing risks to ecosystems, the environment and health.”
Also, according to Marn, there is contamination due to perceptible odors outside the facilities.
In addition, Marn stated, there is noise pollution due to noise levels higher than the values recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization for habitable outdoors.
“These findings are in addition to non-compliance recorded in the 2024 and 2025 environmental audits, related to the characterization of air emissions generated by the combustion of the engines contemplated in the project and noise monitoring, commitments established in its approving environmental resolution extended in 2016,” he stated.
Marn explained that, in both years, “the company did not accredit the monitoring carried out, evidencing repeated non-compliance throughout approximately 10 years of operation with an environmental license, resulting in accumulated and persistent environmental impacts in the area of influence.”
Marn highlighted that, to prevent a greater accumulation of pollution, it notified the company of a precautionary measure that entails the temporary suspension of generating activities until it implements and technically accredits the measures to control polluting emissions and noise.
To read more: Pollution from vehicle emissions costs Guatemala US$3.1 billion annually
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