Chile dam project to go ahead despite protests

In scenes that were similar to the Amazon Road protests in Bolivia recently, environmentalists and the indigenous Patagonian population have been protesting vociferously against the HidroAysen dam project. Unlike in Bolivia, the environmentalists have lost however, with the appeals court in Puerto Montt lifting a suspension order issued in June.

Seven objections have been filed to the project, considering the effect on the Laguna San Rafael National Park and the danger to the Huemul, an Andean species of the deer family. The objections were dismissed in a judges ruling of 2 to 1.

The project involves five dams, built on the rivers Baker and Pascua and will cost around $3 billion; It will however, generate 2,750MW of electricity, increasing Chile’s power capacity by 20% and provide up to 4,000 jobs. Despite the protests, which say that the dams will drain lakes renowned for their natural beauty, HydroAysen claim it will be cost-effective, sustainable, reliable and ecologically viable. The project will flood around 23 square miles of land and require 2,000km of high tension cable to transmit the energy produced over 9 regions of the country.

Protestors are now likely to head to the Supreme Court and then if unsuccessful, the International Court of Human Rights. President Sebastian Pinera is behind the ruling, stating that the project is essential to keep pace with growing energy demands in an economy that is booming.