Chile: In favor of a nature reserve, the government of Gabriel Boric has rejected a multi-million dollar mining project

The government of Chile on Wednesday rejected the controversial Dominga megaproject a the extraction of iron and copper concentratewhich has been valued at $2.5 billion and threatens the survival of a unique nature reserve in the world.

“Of unanimouslythis Committee of Ministers has decided to accept the 12 demands and, therefore, remains with a unfavorable evaluation the mining project of the Port of Dominga,” announced the Minister of the Environment, Maisa Rojas.

Rojas, who presided over this special body also made up of the heads of Health, Mines, Agriculture, Energy and the Economy, ensured that the decision is “robust, traceable and evidence-based” and that the claims have to do with “marine life,” “water pollution,” and “air quality,” among others.

80% of Humboldt penguins

The controversial project Andes Iron Companywhich includes a mine and a port, is located 16 kilometers from the municipality of La Higuera, in the northern region of Coquimbo, and close to the Humboldt archipelago, which protects one of the most important ecosystems in the world and where 80% of this penguin species live.

“The port we are talking about is located in a place that has an absolutely unique ecological value (…) there are deep-sea outcrops with nutrients, which are the basis for a whole unique life chain,” explained the minister.

Both Rojas and the Chilean president, Gabriel Boric, had always been against the projecteven before he took office a year ago.

Even if the refusal by the ministerial body is a new setback for the project, which He’s been trying to get permits for a decadethe company can appeal the decision in court.

Those who defend the project assure that it will lead growth and development in La Higuera, one of the poorest municipalities in Chile, located 500 kilometers north of Santiago.

“Environmental protection is not an obstacle to development, indeed it is an evolutionary condition (…) Those who are from the area and are listening to us, tell them that they are not alone, as a government we will support them,” said the Minister of Economy, Nicolás Grau.

a decade of trouble

Since its presentation a decade ago, it has been embroiled in controversy, which has also erupted to former president Sebastián Piñera (2010-2014 and 2018-2022).

At the end of 2021, the Pandora papers journalistic investigation revealed alleged irregularities in the 2010 sale in the British Virgin Islands of shares of this Piñera megaproject.

The investigation revealed a controversial sale and purchase clause between Piñera and his friend, entrepreneur Carlos Alberto Délano, in which the last payment of the transaction was conditioned on the fact that an environmental protection zone will not be declared in the area of ​​mine operations.

Protecting the environment depended on Piñera, who had assumed power for his first term a few months before the project was sold.

The Chilean prosecutor’s office opened an investigation days after the Pandora Papers were released, but to date no one has been charged.

During the second government of Michelle Bachelet (2014-1018), a Committee of Ministers already reviewed the project and rejected itbut the company appealed to the courts.

EFE extension

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