Imagine a river in Patagonia that flows from one natural lake to the next through a forest of huge trees. Between these lakes the river runs down miles of rapids and countless waterfalls. After kayaking many sections of this river, surfing the waves, running the waterfalls and immersing in the culture surrounding the river; I’m happy to say that the Rio Fuy is my favorite whitewater destination. That’s why I’ve taken particular interest in increasing awareness of the hydroelectricity prospects for this river. During my stay at the Rio Fuy last week I met Christian Labrana, a leader in ecotourism on the river. Christian grew up in the local river town, Choshuenco, and he’s been rafting the river since the 1980’s. For the past eight years he has been bringing ecotourism to the Rio Fuy with a rafting and fishing company. An interview with Christian Labrana reveals the potential future for this river in hydroelectricity.
Chile has always been a mining country, 84% of the national product is copper. As these mines are exporting more, they demand more electricity. The easiest way to get this is not through wind power, wave power, or thermal energy; but from rivers like the Fuy. This river may have never been touched by someone with an edge for river enthusiasm if a dam project hadn’t fell through in the 70’s do to lack of funding. Now a hydropower company based in Madrid, Spain called HidroAysen is planning to build an underground power plant and dam on the Rio Fuy. HidroAysen also plans to dam other Patagonia rivers such as the Baker, Futalefu, and Pascua.
Evidence of this project first appeared in the newspaper in 1996 and was presented to the towns surrounding the river in 2003. The plan is to take water from the Upper Fuy near lake Pinhueico and transport it underground to Neltume Lake where a hydropower station will be built at the town of Neltume. Christian claims that only 30% of the population in Neltume supports this project. The water will then run by natural flow from Lake Neltume back into the Rio Fuy. This project will virtually dry all of the Rio Fuy except for a short section at the end, where it runs into lake Panguipulli. This section is to be dammed by the same company. HidroAysen attempts to convince the locals that this project will ultimately improve their lifestyle by benefiting the economy, but locals like Christian have visions of a better economic future in ecotourism. Paved roads are currently being established in the area for the first time. This will lead to more business in ecotourism, and ultimately a better economy. “Our life, life on the river is much better than the other one,” said Christian.
The driving force for the push to dam more rivers in Chile comes from a few different sources. One is the need for power in the growing city of Santiago. This is perhaps the only worthwhile source. Another source is the need for electricity in mines that are being built in the north of Chile. According to the International Journal of Environment and Pollution, many of the pollutants from copper and iron ore in these mines are discharged into the ocean. Also, most of the resources that are taken from these mines are to be exported to Italy and Spain. So this project only benefits Chile in the short term advantages of selling land rights, and hurts Chile’s environment in more ways than one. “They’re never thinking about the future,” said Christian. As for the city of Santiago, the growing need for electricity can be satisfied in less destructive ways. An alternative suggested by Christian is wind power. Chile is also an ideal place for thermal energy and wave power.
My research on the subject of hydropower in Chile always seems to ultimately lead to the same problem, power. Chile, as well as other countries facing similar problems, is being attacked by powerful international agencies who seem to be convinced that globalization is the best thing for our world. The hydropower projects in Chile prove that this idea overlooks places like Patagonia and the Pacific Ocean.
By, David Gorski
Works Cited
Inderscience Publishers. 17 Feb. 2010. http://inderscience.metapress.com/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,1,28;journal,77,87;linkingpublicationresults,1:110851,1
Patagonia Times. 17 Feb. 2010. http://patagoniatimes.cl/index.php/20080721599/News/Environment/CHILE-DAM-CONTROVERSY-AIRED-IN-SPAIN.html
