Chile rejects huge hydro-electric project in Patagonia
Source: BBC News
10 June 2014 Last updated at 13:47 ET
Chile rejects huge hydro-electric project in Patagonia
The Chilean government has rejected what would have been the biggest energy project in the country's history.
The HidroAysen project would have seen five huge dams built on two rivers in a beautiful part of Patagonia.
"This project has many aspects that were poorly thought out," said Energy Minister Maximo Pacheco.
Environmentalists celebrated the decision, saying the project would have had a devastating impact on the area's ecosystem.
"These giant dams would have put at risk the wilderness, traditional culture, and local tourism economy of this remarkable region," said Amanda Maxwell, Latin America project director at the Natural Resources' Defence Council.
Thousands of people had protested against the HidroAysen project.
Environment Minister Pablo Badenier said HidroAysen had made insufficient provision for those who would have been displaced, and the quantification of damage to the environment and wildlife were inadequate.
Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-27788286
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The people of Chile have been struggling so hard for years to save this beautiful land. [/center]
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- It's time to start thinking outside the electric box. The are thousands of ways to skin an electron......
