Ecobreves – CHILE: Farmers Fight Brazil-Financed Thermoelectric Plant

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

SANTIAGO, Sep 13 2010 (IPS) - A delegation from the Totoral Agricultural Community of the northern region of Copiapó delivered a letter Sep. 8 to Brazil's ambassador in Chile, Mario Vilalva, requesting the Brazilian government withdraw support for the Castilla thermoelectric plant, being built by Brazilian entrepreneur Eike Batista. “The firm says it has the support of the Brazilian government through loans,” said activist Fabiola Flores, secretary of the group of 138 leaders representing more than 2,000 people.

The coal-fired energy plant, now undergoing environmental impact studies, would need 4.4 billion dollars invested to generate 2,300 megawatts of electricity.

The farming community, environmentalists, and other locals oppose the Castilla plant because of its potential for pollution and contamination.