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SEA Gives Green Light to Arauco's "Viento Sur Wind Park" Project After Two Years of Processing

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The project involves an investment of over 300 million dollars to install 43 wind turbines in Arauco, contributing 200 megawatts to the National Electric System.

Nearly 10 months after the Council of Ministers ratified the favorable environmental approval for Arauco's "Viento Sur Wind Park" project, the Environmental Assessment Service gave the green light to the initiative.

However, from this resolution, another deadline begins for claimants to take the case to environmental court, risking further delays beyond the nearly three years since the appeal was filed.

The project, which involves an investment of over 300 million dollars to install 43 wind turbines in Arauco, contributing 200 megawatts to the National Electric System, is one of the prioritized wind generation initiatives in the Industrial Strengthening Plan for Bío Bío, led by Economy Minister Nicolás Grau.

After the resolution of the Ministers' Committee was published, the company welcomed this progress. However, Mauricio Leiva, Sustainability Manager of Arauco's Wind Business, stated that for investment projects to advance, the processing of such appeals must be more expedient.

Citizen Concerns

The initiative underwent an extensive formal evaluation process starting in March 2019. During the citizen participation stage, it received over 1,800 observations from the community, and the indigenous consultation lasted more than two years.

Despite this, and aiming to address citizen concerns, the Council of Ministers, while rejecting the appeal, agreed to modify the RCA (Environmental Qualification Resolution) obtained in March 2022.

Francisco Astorga, the lawyer representing 10 individuals and claimant organizations in the case, told La Radio that they are considering appealing to the Environmental Court, for which they have a one-month deadline from notification.

Only when no further appeal avenues remain could the company decide to finance the project and, if conditions allow, begin construction.

The Council of Ministers' Arguments

Among other aspects, the Council of Ministers concluded that the evaluation records allowed ruling out significant impacts on bird flight routes, habitat fragmentation, as well as on bees and their pollination processes.

Regarding the water resource component and protected areas, it was noted that the project properly ruled out significant adverse effects on the Tubul-Raqui wetland and the urban wetland of El Molino stream. Nevertheless, the RCA was modified to reinforce citizen concerns.

Source:BiobioChile.cl