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The government of Chili rejected this Wednesday the construction of the mining and port project sundaydue to the immense environmental impact that it would cause in a rich maritime reserve in the north of the country, a decision that the company Andes Iron will appeal.
“We are sure that a robust, traceable definition based on technical evidence was taken here.“said the Minister of the Environment, Maisa Rojaswhen communicating the decision adopted unanimously by the Council of Ministers.
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Environmental activists, civil and ecological organizations armed with banners against the mine, with images of the fauna of the place, celebrated the decision, which rejects a project that contemplates an investment of 2,500 million dollars.
On board small boats, communities dedicated to artisanal fishing and tourism in the area also celebrated the decision of the Council of Ministers, according to images from the NGO oceana.
Meanwhile, the miner Andes Ironwhich promotes the initiative, parliamentarians from the center-right opposition and neighborhood leaders of the community The FIG treewhere the mine was planned to be located, criticized the brake on a project that they believe would bring development to a poor area of the country.
Dominga could be located in the vicinity of the Humboldt archipelago, some 530 km north of Santiago and off the coast of La Higuera.
The area is the refuge of 80% of the world population of Humboldt penguins, an endangered species. In addition, it is home to chungungos -the smallest otter in the world- and hundreds of sea lions and bottlenose dolphins. It also serves as a shelter for 14 different species of whales that rise up there from the depths to breathe.
For and against
Through a statement, the mining company announced that it will appeal the decision before the Environmental Courts.
“The Dominga project not only meets, but exceeds all standards and is aligned with the principles established by the government for the sustainable development of industrial and mining projects in terms of environmental protection, community relations, use of clean energy, use of desalinated water, among others”, the company stated.
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“I am defending my home, the place where I live, which is pristinehe told AFP. Maud Ferresactivist against the project, who traveled to Santiago to await the resolution.
But for Alexis Sanchez, spokesman for the Community Association of La Higuera, Dominga meant an opportunity for economic growth for a poor town of 3,700 inhabitants. “With this project we want to achieve our development to stop being one of the poorest communes in the country”, he told AFP.
“When are we going to talk about man and stop talking about little fish and little birds?”, the mayor of La Higuera questioned the local media, yerko galleguillos.
unique environmental value
The project contemplates open pit exploitation of an iron and copper deposit. Near the town of La Higuera, a treatment plant and deposits, a water desalination plant, and a mineral loading port would be built.
“The port is located in a place that has an ecological value that is absolutely unique”, emphasized Minister Rojas, justifying a decision by the leftist government gabriel boricwhich upon assuming power in March 2022 declared itself against its construction.
The controversy surrounding this project grew in 2021 when it splashed the former right-wing president sebastian pinera (2010-2014 and 2018-2022). An investigation by Chilean media in the framework of the “Pandora Papers” indicated that the president’s sons sold the Dominga mining company to the businessman in 2010 Carlos Alberto Delanoa close friend of Piñera, for 152 million dollars, in an operation that was mostly carried out in the Virgin Islands.
The last payment, according to the investigation, was contingent on not establishing an environmental protection area in the area. Once Piñera took office, this area, which encompasses a true natural treasure on the shores of the Pacific, was not considered a protection zone recommended by his predecessor. Michelle Bachelet (2006-2010).
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The senator for that region and opponent of the center right, Matthias Walkerregretted what he considers a political decision.
“One of the poorest communes in the Coquimbo region will continue to sleep on one of the most important iron reserves in the world. I call on President Boric to say today how he is going to compensate the commune of La Higuera for this enormous lossWalker challenged.
“They are not alone, we as a government are going to support them”, assured the Minister of Economy, Nicholas Grauwho detailed an investment plan for more than 700 million dollars for the next eight years in the area.
Source: Elcomercio
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