New York Times criticizes the construction of dams in Patagonia

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WASHINGTON.-  Today, an article published in the New York Times asserted that the Chilean government needs to search for an alternative to building hydroelectric dams in the southern part of the country as a way of solving energy problems, due to the “irreparable” damage they will cause to one of the “wildest and most beautiful places on the planet”.

The article spoke out against the project being proposed by the Spanish company Endesa to construct five dams in Chilean Patagonia --two on the Baker River and three on the Pascua—as a way of providing energy to industries and Santiago mining companies.

The newspaper reminded readers that President Michelle Bachelet´s administration had brought a halt to the initiative until June, when data from an environmental research project is scheduled to be released, and called for the project to be “completely reconsidered”.

The New York Times maintained that, in a sense, the “proposed dams are a relic of the Pinochet government, which privatized water rights in Chile”.