Nicaragua approves massive new canal project. (Panama on steroids)

Originally posted by Flavian It says they have agreed to a 50 year moratorium,

Nope, the link supplied by ....

Originally posted by hoochymama23
Bringing this thread back, considering this recent development.

This was in an article today I read: Link

quite clearly said concession

The report comes nearly a month after Nicaraguan lawmakers gave a Chinese company a 50-year concession to design, build and manage a shipping channel across the Central American nation that would compete with the Panama Canal.

Do you understand the difference in meaning ? Should I link to an online dictionary for you ?

Also, make no mistake on Chinese Political and Commercial interests involved > The canal will be build, and it will be a nice partner program for their foray into an Arctic Seaway route.

I'm wondering if they'll dump a few billion in USTs to help with the costs

reply to post by DevilsApprentice


Okey dokey Mr Finickity, wrong word. However, if you had bothered to read the article you would realise it says that lawmakers have approved a 50 year concession to study AND THEN build the canal network - not just to build it.

Whilst i am looking at your online dictionary, i will happily supply you with a "how to" book on reading comprehension.

Originally posted by Flavian
reply to post by DevilsApprentice

 

Okey dokey Mr Finickity, wrong word. However, if you had bothered to read the article you would realise it says that lawmakers have approved a 50 year concession to study AND THEN build the canal network - not just to build it.

Whilst i am looking at your online dictionary, i will happily supply you with a "how to" book on reading comprehension.

I did a word search on the article >>>------> " Study " not found, though it came as no surprise at all, it was not there when I read said article the first time.

Drop the sentence or paragraph containing the word " Study " in a quote and leave it your reply.

I'll be waiting

Originally posted by Flavian
reply to post by Wrabbit2000

 

I can't see this ever happening to be honest. It says they have agreed to a 50 year moratorium, rather than they will be commencing anytime soon. 50 days is a huge time in politics, never mind 50 years. It also provides 50 years to come up with very good reasons not to proceed!

You never know though, in 50 years it could be a much smaller distance (sea level rise).

In 50 years they may not need it with global warming you may be able to go around north of Canada(Northwest Passage )
en.wikipedia.org...
www.reuters.com...

Originally posted by ANNED

Originally posted by Flavian
reply to post by Wrabbit2000

 

I can't see this ever happening to be honest. It says they have agreed to a 50 year moratorium, rather than they will be commencing anytime soon. 50 days is a huge time in politics, never mind 50 years. It also provides 50 years to come up with very good reasons not to proceed!

You never know though, in 50 years it could be a much smaller distance (sea level rise).

In 50 years they may not need it with global warming you may be able to go around north of Canada(Northwest Passage )
en.wikipedia.org...
www.reuters.com...

You should maybe revise your 50 year estimate . From this article by Stephen Blank at AT Exploring China's Arctic icebreaker

Northern Sea Route into the Barents Sea going from Iceland to the Bering Strait via the North Pole. This trip encouraged Chinese officials to think seriously about commercial exploitation of the Arctic in the belief that, by 2020, 5%-15% of China's international trade - mainly container traffic - would use the route, amounting to anywhere between 125,000 to 375,000 tons.

China is clearly two or three steps ahead of your thinking, and regardless of any consequences of GW, both a northern sea route and a new route through Nicaragua appear to part of their plan.

.

reply to post by DevilsApprentice


Okey dokey, we will go down this route!

From the OP's source article:

The National Assembly dominated by President Daniel Ortega's leftist Sandinista Front voted to grant a 50-year concession to study, then possibly build and run, a canal linking Nicaragua's Caribbean and Pacific coasts to a Chinese company whose only previous experience appears to be in telecommunications

- Nicaragua approves massive canal project

Happy now?

Originally posted by Flavian
reply to post by DevilsApprentice

 

Okey dokey, we will go down this route!

Works for me .


Nicaragua canal project

Here's the story as it appeared in the Nicaragua Dispatch on June 5, 2012 ( and for those with an interest, a reasonable search will find the earlier sources )

" Study "

www.nicaraguadispatch.com...

When Ortega returned to power in 2006, he also promised to build a canal and started to study the various projects

Another ( later ) report ( there's more, yet again search will find ) on September 11, 2012.

" Study " all done now, MO signed.

www.nicaraguadispatch.com...

The Nicaraguan government and a newly formed company run by a Chinese telecom mogul have signed a memorandum of understanding that commits Hong Kong-based HK Nicaragua Canal Development Investment Co. Ltd. to financing and building the “Great Canal of Nicaragua,”

And reading this from the Washington Times July 15, 2013 finds yet again no mention of " Study "

www.washingtontimes.com...

And why no " Study " ? Well you see the " Study " part was done back in 2006. That's why in the link supplied by hoochymama23 from Reuters on July 15, 2013 states that a concession has now been given ...

www.reuters.com...

The report comes nearly a month after Nicaraguan lawmakers gave a Chinese company a 50-year concession to design, build and manage a shipping channel across the Central American nation that would compete with the Panama Canal.

All it takes is a little bit more searching ( because using just one source is never a smart thing to do) and you find that blog post in the OP is way behind the times with regard to their "interpretation" of the real story.

No more study, lets now build.

I'm a bit confused here... Yes, it says they have a 50 year "moratorium", but I can't help think this is a case where something got lost in the translation and in the worst way.

That 50 years is for the Chinese company to not JUST study but also to build and manage it. I think 'exclusivity' clause would have made for a much more accurate translation. It's not 50 years to wait to break ground, as Build/manage isn't about waiting. It's just making clear that it's 100% and ONLY the area of this Chinese company for half a century and others need not bother inquiring about 'help wanted', so to speak.

It's similar, I suppose, to some of the American toll roads being leased out to foreign national companies for 50-100 year leases. I guess you could call those a "Moratorium" on bidding or other competition to manage or maintain those interstate highway sections ..if bad translation had been a factor there too?

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


More info

UN ruling gives Colombia islets but Nicaragua more sea - BBC November 20 2012

The International Court of Justice has ruled that a group of disputed islets in the Caribbean are Colombia's, rejecting a claim by Nicaragua. But the court also redrew the maritime border, extending the Nicaraguan area. The decision potentially gives Nicaragua more access to fishing grounds, as well as reported underwater oil and gas deposits.

And here - Longshore & Shipping News

This is interesting because of the cooperation between Colombia and the US navy.

Neighboring nation Colombia has vehemently rejected the ruling. Colombian warships now sail defiantly through Nicaragua’s newly acquired maritime territory. The planned waterway has already added more tension in South America.

Is the 50 year concession the correct time-frame ? I guess not

From the HKND Group ( Official Development Group ) Website

News 6/23/13 HKND Group Successfully Obtains Exclusive Right to Develop and Manage Nicaragua Grand Canal for 100 Years

And

The agreement grants HKND Group exclusive rights for the planning, design, construction, operation, and management of the Nicaragua Canal and other potential projects, including port projects, free trade zones, an international airport, and other infrastructure development projects.

But then there's this from the South China morning Post on July 4 2013

Nicaraguan civil society groups have challenged plans by a Hong Kong company to build an inter-oceanic canal through the Central American country, arguing that they have not been sufficiently involved in the decision-making process.

Will environmental and ethnic concerns be brushed aside ? Quite possibly yes, given how far things have already gone I do not see Ortega letting these groups stand in his path.

reply to post by DevilsApprentice


Cheers, thanks for the extra info.


None of this means that the project is definitely going to happen though, for a huge variety of reasons. Never mind the difficulties involved, there is huge looming financial crisis in China and this project will cost a packet. Ultimately, i won't be surprised if the plug is pulled because the costs are astronomical and the fact that the Panama Canal is to be extended makes this obsolete.

Plus the Northern Passage, as already identified.