22 August 2017
The Chilean government has
rejected plans for a billion-dollar mining project because it would disrupt sea
life, including endangered penguins.
A Chilean company, Andes Iron,
had wanted to extract millions of tonnes of iron in the northern Coquimbo
region as well as building a new port.
Ministers said the project did
not provide sufficient environmental guarantees.
Coquimbo is close to the islands
which form Chile's Humboldt Penguin Reserve.
The area is home to 80% of the
world's Humboldt penguins as well as other endangered species, including blue
whales, fin whales and sea otters.
Environment Minister Marcelo Mena
said: "I firmly believe in development, but it cannot be at the cost of
our environmental heritage or cause risk to health, or to unique ecological
areas in the world."
Mr Mena said the decision of the
ministerial committee had been based on technical aspects and the evidence of
fourteen agencies and was taken without "political considerations."
No comments:
Post a Comment