Ecobreves – URUGUAY: Protest Against Private Lumber Port

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

MONTEVIDEO, Nov 18 2003 (IPS) - Environmental and workers' groups in Uruguay will launch further protests against the activities of the National Cellulose Enterprise of Spain (ENCE), which on Nov. 10 inaugurated the private port of M'Bopicuá, on the Uruguay River for the processing and export of lumber. According to the Uruguayan government, the port represents an initial investment of 33 million dollars and some 140 jobs.

But activist Ana Filippini, of the environmental group Guayubirá, the investment is on the state's account in the form of subsidies, soft credits and tax exemptions, and the jobs created in M'Bopicuá will mean jobs lost at the other Uruguay River ports of Fray Bentos and Paysandú.

Furthermore, ENCE is planning to build a cellulose plant next to the port, and has already conducted environmental impact studies, with results in its favor.

However, Filippini told Tierramérica that the factory would contaminate the area because it will use chlorine. She said she questions the scientific thoroughness of the environmental impact studies.