Rucalhue Dam Construction Underway Amid Indigenous Resistance and Geopolitical Tensions in Chile
Construction of the Rucalhue Dam, a 90 MW hydroelectric project on Chile's Biobío River, has begun despite significant opposition from local Indigenous communities and concerns over environmental impacts. Classified as a project of 'national interest' by Chile's forestry agency, the dam is the fifth on the Biobío and is set for completion by the end of the decade. Meanwhile, efforts to protect river ecosystems are gaining momentum, with initiatives like reservas de caudal advocating for the preservation of local waterways.
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The Rucalhue Dam, a 90 MW hydroelectric project on Chile's Biobío River, is under construction despite community opposition and concerns regarding Indigenous rights. The project, developed by Rucalhue Energía SpA and controlled by China International Water and Electric, is the fifth such project on the Biobío, which has already been heavily impacted by existing dams.
In October 2023, the Chilean forestry agency CONAF classified Rucalhue as a project of 'national interest,' enabling a forest management plan that permits the removal of native species. Construction officially began in August 2024, with an estimated completion by the end of the decade.
Local communities have opposed the dam since at least 2013, citing previous harms from hydro projects. Meanwhile, initiatives like reservas de caudal are being proposed to protect rivers, exemplified by efforts to secure a formal flow reserve for the Queuco River and recent ecological water reserves established for the Futaleufú and Puelo rivers, reflecting a broader movement for river protection in Chile.
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