Chilean government rejects Dominga mining megaproject; opposition criticizes measure

The Chilean government’s rejection of the controversial Dominga megaproject has unleashed a wave of applause and celebrations on social media by ruling party parliamentarians, while only a few opposition voices have expressed their criticism publicly.

“Dominga is rejected and one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world is protected. The project symbol of environmental corruption falls. Correct decision of the Committee of Ministers to preserve natural life in the face of the climate crisis that plagues us”, published Diego Ibáñez, president of the Social Convergence party, to which the president, Gabriel Boric, belongs.

The controversial project of the Andes Iron company, which includes a mine and a port, is located 16 kilometers from the commune of La Higuera, in the northern region of Coquimbo, and near the Humboldt Archipelago, which protects one of the most important in the world and where 80% of this species of penguins lives.

The communist deputy Karol Cariola applauded what she described as “great news” and pointed out that it is about “a powerful ruling and a clear commitment by President Gabriel Boric to the protection of the environment and biodiversity”.

Also from the Socialist Party, which is part of the Democratic Socialism coalition and the most moderate soul of the government conglomerate, they celebrated the decision of the committee of ministers in a public statement from their parliamentary bench.

“This was a lousy project that affected a unique ecosystem in the world. That is why we want to assess the determined action of the Government, in order to reject this project”, said the deputy and president of the Environment Commission, Daniel Melo, who celebrated that “today is a great day for Chile and future generations”.

“They didn’t care about the fig tree”

On the other side, the opposition expressed its concern about the impact that the cancellation of the project could have for the inhabitants of La Higuera, where the defenders of the project argued that it would bring growth and economic development to one of the poorest communes in Chile.

The deputy of the party in formation Democrats and formerly a Christian-Democratic militant, Matías Walker, maintained that the decision “it is not consistent with environmental and legal parameters; It only complies with the campaign slogan”.

“They never cared about the opinion of the majority of the inhabitants of La Higuera”, added the parliamentarian.

The mayor of La Higuera, Yerko Galleguillos, a militant of the conservative Independent Democratic Union (UDI) party, expressed himself along the same lines, who assured in an interview with a local media outlet that “People talk about the extinction of the penguin and the Humboldt duck, but I talk about the extinction of my neighbors, who don’t have a job”.

“When are we going to talk about man and stop talking about the little fish and the little birds?”added Galleguillos ironically.

The Andes Iron company reported this Wednesday that it will appeal the government’s decision in court.