Chadín 2 Hydroelectric Power Project
Chadín 2 Hydroelectric Power Project
Request for Constitutional Protection for Earth Rights Defenders Affected by Chadin 2 Hydroelectric Power Plant
Country:
Peru
Case Status:
Ongoing
Issues:
Corporate Accountability, Mega-Projects, Extractive Industries
Harms:
Right to health and a healthy environment, right to life, right to property, right to culture
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.
Plaintiffs
Representatives of several communities affected by the project, including Yagen, Cortegana, Tupen, Mendan, and Rambran.
Defendants
- The Ministry of Energy and Mines
- The Ministry of the Environment
- The National Environmental Certification Service for Sustainable Investments
- The company AC. Energy S.A.
- National Water Authority (ANA)
Partners
Leaders and leaders of the communities affected by the construction of the Chadin 2 Hydroelectric Plant that support the demand and the Legal Defense Institute -IDL.
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.
Legal Issues
This project is a certain and imminent threat to the guarantee of the fundamental right to a balanced and adequate environment and the development of life, as recognized in Article 2.22 of the Political Constitution of Peru. This is because the construction and operation of the hydroelectric plant would cause imminent and serious damage to the Marañón river, its basins, and tributaries, harming a fundamental part of the environment and life of the communities that live on the river and depend on it for their lives and livelihoods.
