The energy company Endesa is drawing fire from indigenous, environmental and citizens’ advocates here in the wake of its announcement that it is moving ahead with new hydroelectric projects in southern Chile. Endesa, the Spain-based subsidiary of the Italian utility company Enel, already has garnered attention thanks to its ongoing effort to build a five-dam, hydroelectric complex on the highly prized Baker and Pascua rivers in southern Chile’s Aysén region. Called HidroAysén, that project won government approval in May 2011 and, with its associated transmission line, is expected to cost US$10 billion to build. Those worried about environmental and tourism impacts of such dams have expressed renewed concern since Endesa’s regional energy-planning manager, Sebastián Fernández, announced in December that it is... [Log in to read more]
