Wednesday, January 9, 2008Norwegian company suspends energy project in Chile http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=12360&formato=HTML

Norwegian energy company SN Power recently agreed to temporarily suspendactivities on its southern Chile Region XIV hydroelectric project due tovocal opposition from local indigenous groups.The proposed construction, tentatively set to begin in 2013, wouldgenerate roughly 580 megawatts of electricity by diverting water from anumber of local rivers into subterranean canals at a cost of 600 millionUS dollars. While the project calls for neither dams nor reservoirs,four “Low Impact Centers” or plants would be erected in the communitiesof Lago Ranco, Futrono y Panguipulli.Roughly 520 miles south of Santiago, the project would be located nearValdivia, a major metropolitan area, as well as a large rural Mapuchepopulation.

But initial information gathering activities were put on hold followinga recent meeting between Nils Huseby, SN Power Vice President for LatinAmerica, and Pedro Antimilla, a representative of the Mapuchecommunities of Coñaripe and Liquiñe and member of the Mesa Pellaifa Newen.During a seminar in Oslo, Norway, last month Mr. Antimilla suggestedthat the project would constitute an intervention in Mapucheterritories, interfere with Mapuche-operated tourism, and threaten thesurrounding environment.“SN power has not listened to [Mapuche] opinions ? It obtainedelectrical concessions? and bought mineral rights without consultingus,” he claimed.Additionally, Antimilla expressed concern over the actual constructionof the 300 feet-deep tunnels, which could potentially pollute adjacentrivers with excess sediment and toxins.
“This new model of hydroelectric power has fewer environmental impacts,”\u003cbr /\>says Esteban Llanes, Manager of Land and Concessions at SN Power Chile.

“This new model of hydroelectric power has fewer environmental impacts,”says Esteban Llanes, Manager of Land and Concessions at SN Power Chile.Llanes further noted that the decision to temporarily suspend activitieswas motivated by a desire to share information and “allow people in theaffected communities to have a chance to submit petitions” on the subject.According to a recent letter from Huseby to Antimilla, published on aPellaifa Newen blog, SN Power has affirmed its promise to suspendactivities in the region until a larger meeting between the company andthe affected communities can take place at the end of this month.The debate presented in this exchange has become increasingly typical inrecent years, as Chile’s growing hydroelectric industry continues todevelop at odds with local indigenous and environmental communities.

The Santiago Times


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