The Chilean government has rejected objections from indigenous communities and environmentalists against a new wind farm in the south of the country.
The committee of ministers – Chile’s highest body for ruling on environmental permits – voted unanimously to approve the licence granted to forestry firm Arauco to develop the 215MW Viento Sur wind farm in the southern region of Biobío.
The Kudawfe Peñi indigenous community had challenged the licence granted to the $250 million project in March 2022 on the basis that it had not been properly consulted and that it would impact an indigenous cemetery. However, their appeal was rejected as inadmissible.
Members of Chile’s Mapuche indigenous group lay claim to large areas of land in southern Chile, much of which is today occupied by forestry plantations owned by companies like Arauco.
A second appeal by environmentalist non-governmental organisation Defensa Ambiental claimed that environmental authorities had not revised the project’s impact on local wetlands and communities. Its appeal was also rejected.
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