The New York Times in an editorial today criticized the Chilean government plans to build five hydroelectric dams in Chilean Patagonia, one of the last unspoiled places in Latin America. The project involves the Spanish subsidiary of Endesa, which is the main power in Chile. The complex, known as Hidroaysén has forecast capacity of 2,750 megawatts, nearly as three nuclear reactors, and is driven by Endesa Chile (51% of the shares) and the Chilean Colbún (49% remaining).
A spokeswoman for Hidroaysén felt that the editorial was based on errors and notes that there are even bigger projects in Patagonia, Argentina than just criticism. "The damage that these dams would have on the environment is tremendous, and its built-in a vast unspoiled natural landscape, open the way for other projects, including more dams," says the paper, which no doubt Chile's energy needs but calls for bets on geothermal energy, solar and wind energy instead of destroying the Patagonia, which would be "an irreparable mistake." Chile does not depend on electricity from other countries but their plans to increase its electrical power have been criticized.
The plan to build nuclear plants died before birth by the accident of Fukushima. Japan, Chile is one of the most seismically active areas on the planet. The hydroelectric scheme has brought protesters into the streets. The project consists of five hydroelectric dams on the Baker and Pascua rivers, and is an investment in a subsidiary of the Spanish company Endesa and the Chilean Colbún by about 2,200 million euros.
The impact is not just for the dams and flood about 6,000 hectares, but by the construction of power lines over 2,000 kilometers to carry electricity, according to The New York Times. Three days ago, about 30,000 Chileans marched in Santiago against the dams. A spokeswoman for Hidroaysén, María Irene Soto, said the American newspaper of errors: "They say they would be cut down under the power lines, but it's not only trees over 45 meters.
There is no clear cut vegetation. In Patagonia, Argentina is a project that will flood 45,000 hectares, 10 times more, and with hardly any criticism. " Soto added that Chile is growing economically by 6% per year and needs to accommodate 500 megawatts of electricity a year. He noted that dam safety is evaluated for events such as floods or earthquakes at a rate of over a thousand years.
The company insists on the great efficiency of your facility against other similar. "The dam of La Romaine, in Canada, flooded 27,900 hectares, but this is 11 times more efficient," said Soto, who said foreign environmental groups that are driving the opposition to dams. Chile is highly dependent on foreign energy and unlike countries like Bolivia, just has gas, oil or coal.
Hydroaysén stands on its website that their project is sustainable and will be "implemented and operated in a socially and environmentally responsible, in harmony with the communities of the Aysen region, without limiting the possibilities for development of future generations" and argues that it is "compatible with other economic activities such as tourism, forestry, services, construction, fisheries and livestock, among others." 
A spokeswoman for Hidroaysén felt that the editorial was based on errors and notes that there are even bigger projects in Patagonia, Argentina than just criticism. "The damage that these dams would have on the environment is tremendous, and its built-in a vast unspoiled natural landscape, open the way for other projects, including more dams," says the paper, which no doubt Chile's energy needs but calls for bets on geothermal energy, solar and wind energy instead of destroying the Patagonia, which would be "an irreparable mistake." Chile does not depend on electricity from other countries but their plans to increase its electrical power have been criticized.
The plan to build nuclear plants died before birth by the accident of Fukushima. Japan, Chile is one of the most seismically active areas on the planet. The hydroelectric scheme has brought protesters into the streets. The project consists of five hydroelectric dams on the Baker and Pascua rivers, and is an investment in a subsidiary of the Spanish company Endesa and the Chilean Colbún by about 2,200 million euros.
The impact is not just for the dams and flood about 6,000 hectares, but by the construction of power lines over 2,000 kilometers to carry electricity, according to The New York Times. Three days ago, about 30,000 Chileans marched in Santiago against the dams. A spokeswoman for Hidroaysén, María Irene Soto, said the American newspaper of errors: "They say they would be cut down under the power lines, but it's not only trees over 45 meters.
There is no clear cut vegetation. In Patagonia, Argentina is a project that will flood 45,000 hectares, 10 times more, and with hardly any criticism. " Soto added that Chile is growing economically by 6% per year and needs to accommodate 500 megawatts of electricity a year. He noted that dam safety is evaluated for events such as floods or earthquakes at a rate of over a thousand years.
The company insists on the great efficiency of your facility against other similar. "The dam of La Romaine, in Canada, flooded 27,900 hectares, but this is 11 times more efficient," said Soto, who said foreign environmental groups that are driving the opposition to dams. Chile is highly dependent on foreign energy and unlike countries like Bolivia, just has gas, oil or coal.
Hydroaysén stands on its website that their project is sustainable and will be "implemented and operated in a socially and environmentally responsible, in harmony with the communities of the Aysen region, without limiting the possibilities for development of future generations" and argues that it is "compatible with other economic activities such as tourism, forestry, services, construction, fisheries and livestock, among others."
- Chile Dams Its Rivers to Unleash Its Economy (12/05/2011)
- In Search of Energy, A Booming Chile Chooses to Dam Its Rivers (12/05/2011)
- In Search of Energy, A Booming Chile Chooses to Dam Its Rivers (11/05/2011)
- Patagonia, land of glaciers and wildlife - El Calafate, Argentina (11/05/2011)
- A Nearly Perfect Mid-Layer: Patagonia's Ultralight Down Shirt (23/05/2011)
New York Times (homepage) NYSE: NYT (googlefinance) New York Times Company (NYT) (wikinvest) New York Times (crunchbase) The New York Times (wikipedia) Thomas Friedman at Webbys (youtube) Endesa (Spain) (homepage) LSE: ELE (googlefinance) Endesa (Spain) (wikipedia) Patagonia (geolocation) Patagonia (wikipedia)
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