Central San Pedro

View of San Pedro River a few kilometers downstream from the proposed dam site.

Central San Pedro is a controversial energy project that aims to build a hydroelectric power plant in San Pedro River, Los Ríos Region, Chile. The dam and associated infrastructure would generate 170 megawatts (230,000 hp).[1] The project was halted in 2009 due to problems associated with the area's geology,[1] but then reactivated in 2019.[2]

As of 2019 the municipalities of Panguipulli and Los Lagos, the two most directly affected communes, have rejected the project.[1] The mayor of Los Lagos, among other people, has expressed concerns over its mpact on tourism and biodiversity.[1] On September 7, 2019, three or more armed persons attacked the project's temporary installations, setting the storehouse ablaze.[3] Within a week, Colbún S.A. had responded by filling legal actions against those responsible.[3]

In September 2022 the project was put on hold as Colbún S.A. declared it was not continuing with the legal proceedings for its establishment.[4]

Scheme showing the position of San Pedro River in the Valdivia River basin. Lakes are shown in green.
  1. ^ a b c d "Municipios de Panguipulli y Los Lagos rechazan construcción de Central San Pedro de Colbún". Electricidad (in Spanish). January 29, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  2. ^ "La arremetida del grupo Matte para construir megacentral hidroeléctrica en Río San Pedro « Diario y Radio U Chile" (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  3. ^ a b Stuardo, Manuel (September 13, 2019). "Colbún presenta querella por ataque incendiario a central de proyecto hidroeléctrico San Pedro". Radio Bío-Bío (in Spanish). Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  4. ^ Díaz Montero, Felipe; Malverde, Diego (2022-09-21). "No habrá hidroeléctrica en río San Pedro: Colbún desiste de proyecto tras 12 años de tramitación". Radio Bío-Bío. Retrieved 2023-07-30.