14 DAY TRIAL // Colbún is a company in Chile in the business of electric power generation and transmission, presently owning 15 hydro-power plants, 6 thermo plants and 17 substations.
It is trying to force the Chilean government to allow it to build an additional 5 hydro-power plants in Patagonia, with the Pascua and Baker rivers as their water sources. Its partner for this project is to be the Italian Endesa-Enel group.
Seeing that Chile is indeed in dire need of such projects, given its energy crisis, this wouldn't normally be a problem. However, what bothers environmentalists and even the members of the local communities is the fact that these dams are to be built 1,600 kilometers south from the Aysén region, which is apparently one of the few wilderness areas that still remain standing nowadays.
We are not talking only about the fact that this region is as rich as they come in terms of biodiversity. On the contrary, environmentalists are also concerned about the fact that this area currently “hosts” one of the world's most significant fresh water reserves, which could easily be affected – if not utterly destroyed – by the building of the afore-mentioned dams.
As ipsnews.net reports, the Matte family, who owns the Colbún company and who just happens to be one of the wealthiest “clans” in Chile, isn't very much bothered by the fact that 74% of all Chileans whole-heartedly oppose their latest project.
Seeing how the hydro-power plants in southern Chile are expected to generate a total of 2750 megawatts for the national grid system, having transmission lines installed so as to carry around all this energy is also likely to take its toll on the environment.
The leader of the Patagonia Without Dams campaign, environmentalist Juan Pablo Ortega, recently told the press that: “We don't fully understand what is going on, but apparently Colbún is trying to put pressure on the government to speed up the 'public electricity highway' President Piñera promised."
Rumor has it that the Colbún company needs government support so as to “dodge” the lawsuits that would come their way once their transmission lines start making their way through national parks, territories owned by indigenous people and areas meant for tourism.
From where we stand, it seems to us that the Chilean government has a rather difficult decision to make: either it allows for the building of these dams and provides the country with the brand new energy source it quite needs, or it gives satisfaction to its citizens and puts an end to this project.