HidroAysen, the mega-energy project slated for southern Chile’s Region XI (Patagonia), said Monday it will delay its official response to the 1,114 questions raised about its controversial project until next June 30.

The US$3.2 billion energy project, owned by Italian energy company Endesa and its Chilean associate Colbun, plans to build five hydroelectric dams in Chile’s pristine Patagonia area on the Baker and Pascua Rivers. The aim is to generate 2,750 megawatts of energy yearly and then transport the energy 2,000 kilometers north to Chile’s Central Valley.

 

The project would consolidate more than 80 percent of the central grid’s energy production in the hands of the two energy companies.

HidroAysén first submitted its Environmental Impact Evaluation Report (EIA) to government authorities in August 2008. In November 2008 the document was deemed unsatisfactory because it failed to address many environmental concerns raised by government agencies and private groups.

The proceedings were then suspended until HidroAysén could offer a more comprehensive report to address the 2,649 concerns raised by local community groups and state agencies, which was submitted in October, 2009 (PT, Oct. 22, 2009).

This second EIA effort generated another 1,114 questions and concerns raised by the same community groups and 30 state agencies — mostly by the General Water Directorate, the Fishing Undersecretary, and the city of Tortel.

HidroAysén insists that the area impacted by the dams is very small and will not negatively impact southern Chile’s growing tourism industries. 

Anomalies in the environmental certification process allow dam proponents to separate dam construction from the 2,000 km long transmission lines that will be built to carry the power to central Chile.

The estimated US$3.2 billion construction cost does not include the cost of installing the transmission line from Aisén to Santiago at an additional cost of US$1.6 billion.

Critics say the project will destroy one of the world’s few remaining pristine regions and consolidate too much economic and political power in the hands of a foreign company. They also say it will destroy southern Chile’s fledgling tourism industry and that recent studies show that Chile can easily meet future energy needs without the HidroAysén project.

SOURCE:  LA TERCERA
By Steve Anderson ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )