A USD 23 million (EUR 19.8 million) expansion of a processing plant planned by Chilean salmon farmer Camanchaca in the city of Coronel has been halted during its environmental review, following questions from residents and the community’s mayor regarding its impact.
The project included an expansion of the company’s existing facility in Coronel, located in the major southern city of Concepcion. The project was intended to optimize Camanchaca’s existing operational capacity for fishmeal, fish oil, and canned and frozen projects through a significant expansion.
However, local newspaper Diario de Concepción reported that Camanchaca delivered a formal request on 7 November to suspend the process to receive its environmental license, without giving any further explanation.
The project was in the qualification process of the licensing, and the request to suspend it was approved by authorities.
Coronel Mayor Boris Chamorro welcomed the company’s decision.
“It was not the moment [for the project], at a moment of environmental crisis that is affecting our region, in that there are more projects that are destructive to the environment,” he said.
Other local politicians, including congressional representative Feliz Gonzalez, criticized the fishmeal plant’s location next to “the houses of residents, schools and hospitals.” He was specifically concerned about the impact of Camanchaca’s expansion of its fishmeal processing capability, according to Radio BioBio.
The city of Coronel was a focal point for protests after a health study found the presence of heavy metals in 21 residents, which local reports blamed on hydroelectrical plants and industrial fishing. That triggered a public discussion on whether to hold a referendum to allow industrial activity in the area to continue.
Mauricio Guitièrrez, the head of the regional government’s economic unit, Seremi, had supported the project when it was announced in September. When asked about the decision to suspend it, he said that it was within legal statutes to withdraw it, and that the company is not obligated to give an explanation.
Photo courtesy of Camanchaca
