SUMMARY
The Chadín 2 Hydroelectric Plant is one of more than 20 hydroelectric projects planned on the Marañón River in Peru. In 2011, the Peruvian government declared the project of national interest and in 2014, the Ministry of Energy and Mines granted it the concession of the project and approved its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The project will create energy by damming of the waters of the Marañón River, whose reservoir will have an area of 32.5 square kilometers along 22 kilometers of the river, consequently flooding the surrounding territories. This would displace at least 1,000 people living in Cajamarca and Amazonas, resulting in irreparable loss of land, irreversible damage to dry forests, and a would jeopardize their ecosystem.
The affected communities filed a landmark lawsuit against the Peruvian government, requesting the immediate cancellation of the project.
The communities are currently waiting for a response from the defendants.
The Ministry of the Environment
The National Environmental Certification Service for Sustainable Investments
The company AC. Energy S.A.
National Water Authority (ANA)
TIMELINE
1970
An evaluation of the hydroelectric potential of Peru was made. In this evaluation, it was defined that a number of hydroelectric power plants could be built in the Marañón River.
1985
The Canadian company SNC Inc. carried out a hydroelectric study of the Central Marañón for the company Electroperú, in which it proposed to build three dams: Cumba 4, Chadín 2, and Balsas.
2010
The Brazilian company Odebrecht, through its subsidiary AC Energía, carried out a feasibility study and prepared an EIA for the Chadín 2 hydroelectric project.
2014
On February 20, by means of Directorial Resolution No. 058-2014-MEM / AAE, the MEM approved the EIA for the Chadín 2 hydroelectric project. EIA has various observations by public institutions on energy, agricultural environmental and water resources. Observations that have not been fully raised by AC Energía S.A.
2018
Affected communities file a lawsuit with the Mixed Court of Celendin of the Superior Court of Justice of Cajamarca.