Peru Cancels Massive Dam On Madre De Dios River - 46,000 Ha Primary Rainforest Spared

[hatrack]

Three years of sustained community opposition have brought down plans for a massive dam on the Madre de Dios River in Peru. Yesterday the Peruvian government announced it was terminating the contract with Empresa de Generación Eléctrica Amazonas Sur (Egasur) to build a 1.5 gigawatt dam, known as the Inambari Dam. The dam was one of six that were agreed upon between Peru and Brazil to supply the latter with energy.

"Although this resolution does not prevent the construction of all dams in the Inambari Basin, it is very important because it clearly cancels EGASUR’s participation. The resolution states that all future proposed projects must be subjected to prior consultation with local communities," said Aldo Santos, from local NGO SER (Rural Educational Services), in a press release. 



The cancellation follows a month long strike by 2,000 people against the dam as well as mining and oil projects in the region. If built, the Inambari Dam would have inundated 46,000 hectares of rainforest and impacted the agricultural livelihoods of thousands of people. The dam would also have flooded 120 kilometers of the only-just finished Inter-Oceanic Highway.

"Even though the project is cancelled we know that we have won the battle but not the war. We know there are too many interests behind construction of Inambari, especially the interests of the Brazilians and their energy thirst,” said Olga Cutipa, President of the Front to Defend the Inambari-San Gaban.


EDIT

http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0615-hance_inambari.html

[NCarolinawoman]

1. Some good news for a change.

I am impressed with those people and I wish them well.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Ditto.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Tritto. nt

[snagglepuss]

4. Kudos to those who are fighting this. I wish them continued strength and success.

Thanks for posting.



:applause: