It is the Dominga plan for iron and copper, valued at US$ 2,500 million and which threatens a unique ecosystem in the world.
The Government of Chile rejected this Wednesday the controversial Dominga megaproject to 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 decided to accept the 12 claims and, therefore, is left with a unfavorable evaluation the Dominga port mining project”, announced the Minister of the Environment, Maisa Rojas.
Rojas, who presided over this special body also made up of the heads of Health, Mining, Agriculture, Energy and the Economy, assured that the decision is “robust, traceable and based on technical evidence” 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 commune 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 species of penguins lives.
“The port we are talking about is located in a place that has an ecological value that is absolutely unique (…) there are deep water outcrops with nutrients, which are the basis for a whole chain of very unique life,” explained the minister.
Both Rojas and the Chilean president, Gabriel Boric, had always been contrary to the projecteven before taking office a year ago.
Although the rejection by the ministerial instance is a new setback for the project, which He has been trying to get permits for a decadethe company can appeal the decision in court.
Those who defend the project assure that it will bring growth and development to La Higuera, one of the poorest communes in Chile, located 500 kilometers north of Santiago.
“Environmental protection is not an obstacle to development, rather it is a developmental condition (…) Those who are from the area and are listening to us, tell them that they are not alone, as a government we are going to support them,” said the Minister of Economy, Nicolás Grau.
a decade of trouble
Since its presentation a decade ago, it has been involved in controversies, which even splashed to former President Sebastián Piñera (2010-2014 y 2018-2022).
The journalistic investigation of Pandora papers revealed at the end of 2021 alleged irregularities in the sale in 2010 in the British Virgin Islands of actions of this Piñera megaproject.
The investigation disclosed a controversial purchase and sale clause between Piñera and his friend, the businessman Carlos Alberto Délano, in which the last payment of the transaction was conditioned on the fact that an environmental protection area will not be declared in the area of operations of the mine.
Environmental protection depended on Piñera, who had assumed power for his first term just months before the sale of the project.
The Chilean Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation days after the publication of the Pandora Papers, but to this day 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
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