The Dominga project is made up by 2 open pit mines for iron ore and copper extraction, a harbor to load the mineral, a desalinization plant and a processing plant. The project does not consider the important marine diversity of the Marine Reserve off the coast and relies on corrupted authorities to approve industrial projects. The Andes Iron company´s main shareholder has been jailed for corruption practices by bribing high rank government officials related to national mining policies. The possible environmental impacts on the Marine Reserve are not being compensated or mitigated as required by the law. The project is currently being evaluated by the government. |
This large project threatens biodiversity at Punta de Choros and Humboldt Penguin Reserve. It includes open-pit mines for iron ore and copper, a harbor to load the mineral, desalinization, and processing plants. There are allegations of corruption.
Description:
Basic Data
| Name of conflict: | Proyecto Minera Dominga, Coquimbo, Chile |
| Country: | Chile |
| State or province: | Provincia del Elqui, Región de Coquimbo |
| Location of conflict: | La Higuera |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
Source of Conflict
Project Details and Actors
| Project details | 12 million tons per year of iron ore. Principal resource is iron ore and copper as a by product. The project will have 2 open pits and one of the pits intervenes an aquifer with vital water for drinking and watering olive orchards. The company promises not to use the water form the aquifer, but they must drain the main pit and reinject the water downstream. This drain and reinject proces is highly experimental and manipulates the natural course of the aquifer. |
| Project area: | 2,000 |
| Level of Investment for the conflictive project | US$2,500,000,000 |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Affected Population: | 3,500 persons |
| Start of the conflict: | 2011 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Andes Iron Ltd. from Chile |
| Relevant government actors: | Ministerio de Minería Ministerio de Medioambiente Ministerio de Economía Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental Gobierno Regional de Coquimbo |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Modema Chao Pescao OLCA Ocmal Greenpeace Geute Conservación Sur Alianza de Humboldt |
Conflict & Mobilization
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Farmers Informal workers Local ejos Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Local scientists/professionals Fisher people |
| Forms of mobilization: | Artistic and creative actions (eg guerilla theatre, murals) Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Development of alternative proposals Involvement of national and international NGOs Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Media based activism/alternative media Objections to the EIA Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Arguments for the rights of mother nature Appeals/recourse to economic valuation of the environment Refusal of compensation |
Impacts
| Environmental Impacts | Potential: Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Desertification/Drought, Food insecurity (crop damage), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Noise pollution, Soil contamination, Soil erosion, Waste overflow, Oil spills, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Mine tailing spills, Other Environmental impacts |
| Other Environmental impacts | impact on the penguin reserve where 80% of the world´s popuation has its habitat impact on sensible marine ecosystems |
| Health Impacts | Potential: Accidents, Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…), Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide, Violence related health impacts (homicides, rape, etc..), Health problems related to alcoholism, prostitution, Occupational disease and accidents, Other environmental related diseases, Other Health impacts |
| Other Health impacts | Possible health problems because of air pollution, mental problems because of loss of quality of life, increase of living costs, loss of serenity, loss of community sense and traditions. |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors Potential: Displacement, Increase in violence and crime, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Militarization and increased police presence, Social problems (alcoholism, prostitution, etc..), Specific impacts on women, Violations of human rights, Loss of landscape/sense of place, Other socio-economic impacts |
| Other socio-economic impacts | Serious impacts on marine life because of the elevated marine traffic, danger of oil spills, danger of introduction by exotic species, reduction in agricutural activities, fishing and diving, terrifying impact on tourism and tourist attractions like dolfins, whales, sea otters, penguins and the serene seascape of desert islands. |
Outcome
| Project Status | Planned (decision to go ahead eg EIA undertaken, etc) |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Corruption Court decision (undecided) Application of existing regulations New Environmental Impact Assessment/Study |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | Modema supports the alternative project proposed by OCEANA Chile for a Marine Reserve that protects the existing islands off the coast and its biodiversity and the sustainable activities like fishing, agriculture and eco turism. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | Not Sure |
| Briefly explain: | The community waits for the official government decision to approve or reject the project. If it is approved the community will ask and look for environmental justice. |
Sources & Materials
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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| Other documents |
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Meta information
| Contributor: | Andrés Álvarez president of Modema, the Movement in Defense of the Environment e-mail: [email protected] Actualizado en 2020 por María Romero Olivares |
| Last update | 31/08/2020 |
| Conflict ID: | 1949 |
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