The Environmental Evaluation Commission (COEVA) of the Maule region rejected the electrical interconnection project Los Cóndores–Río Diamante on Tuesday, an initiative that aimed to connect the electrical systems of Chile and Argentina with an investment of USD 36 million
The project, promoted by the company Enel, had been heavily criticized by environmental activists after leftist actor Leonardo DiCaprio publicly questioned its installation
The initiative included the construction of a transmission line of 26.7 kilometers in Chilean territory, from the new Los Cóndores substation to the border with Argentina
The route began in the commune of San Clemente, located 275 kilometers south of Santiago, and planned to install 76 metal towers, along a stretch that would extend between 1,450 and 2,667 meters above sea level
The decision by the environmental authority represents a setback for a project that aimed to advance electrical connectivity between the two countries and involved a multimillion-dollar investment. According to COEVA's resolution, the initiative raised concerns related to the possible effects on "biodiversity and tourism" in the area
The project had been questioned in recent weeks by Leonardo DiCaprio, a well-known leftist activist, who publicly urged the Chilean government to reject the initiative
