Penguins put $2.5 billion mining project in Chile on ice

Penguins put $2.5 billion mining project in Chile on ice
Ministers veto the plans because they ‘would damage the ecosystem where the protected seabirds live’

Jeff Farrell 5 hours ago



A group of Humboldt penguins stand on the rocks at Damas Island in the Coquimbo Region where the firm wants to mine for copper and ore AFP/Getty Images

A waddle of penguins has stopped a $2.5bn (£1.9bn) mining project in Chile.

The creatures, which have been protected since 1990, live in the National Humboldt Penguin Reserve, in the Coquimbo Region, almost 300 miles north of the capital, Santiago.

Andes Iron had planned to build a mine and a port near the site, where it planned to churn out up to 12 million tonnes of copper and ore every year.

But the company's planning permission was challenged by Oceana, a conservation and advocacy organisation.

More:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/penguins-mining-project-chile-stopped-conservation-sanctuary-national-humboldt-reserve-andes-iron-a7999041.html

Environment and energy:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1127113201