Huexca Plant to be Completed / CONAGUA Gave Permits to CFE

Huexca thermoelectric plant will be completed. President López Obrador announced the government's decision to restart work to complete a thermoelectric plant in Huexca, Morelos, and launch operations at the end of 2020. The president noted that this project, worth MX$20 billion (US$94 million), will be operated by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and not by private companies. “With this plant, the entire state can be lit. Work started several years ago and it was practically finished. There is very little left to do except operate it,” he said. After local communities rejected the project, a public consultation was carried out in February 2019 and 59.5 percent of participants voted yes.

CONAGUA gave permits to CFE. Minister of the Interior (SEGOB) Olga Sánchez Cordero said the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) gave the permits to continue with the Morelos Comprehensive Project (PIM), solving lawsuits against the CFE plant in Huexca, allowing it to be completed. “The resolution was confirmed since there was no impact on the rights of ‘ejidatarios’ (land owners). CONAGUA has proceeded to grant permits to CFE to continue with the project,” Sánchez Cordero said. CFE head Manuel Bartlett highlighted the urgency for Morelos to have this plant running. “This plant will supply energy to the whole state, which is seeing growth in the industrial and tourism sectors. It is a necessary and urgent project,” Bartlett said.

Laments death at Chihuahua dam. President López Obrador sent his condolences to relatives of a woman who died in Chihuahua after clashes between local communities and federal authorities over the operation of a dam. “I am very sorry that a woman lost her life, that her husband is in serious condition; my deepest condolences to her family and friends,” he said and noted that an investigation will be carried out and those responsible will be punished. The president stated that National Guard officers involved must testify before the Public Ministry. “We have to assess if there were shots fired or not, if it was a member of the National Guard. They are waiting to be summoned and have instructions to appear and testify,” he said, adding that the dam was being used for political purposes.

Asks SEP to assess own program. President López Obrador asked Minister of Public Education (SEP) Esteban Moctezuma to evaluate the Aprende en Casa (Learn from Home) program, which was carried out to replace on-site classes. “I have information that progress is being made. It is not the same as face-to-face education. Other countries haven’t been able to start classes,” he said.

Meeting with women in CNDH case. On Sept. 17, Minister of the Interior (SEGOB) Olga Sánchez Cordero will meet with women who took over CNDH facilities last week and vandalized the building. “We are going to meet next week and from there we are going to meet either every 15 days or every month,” she said after a group of women took over the Human Rights Commission offices demanding results in investigations into the rape and murder of their children. “I believe their claims are going to be addressed in a professional and appropriate manner,” she said.

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Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish