SN Power Prince to Avoid Chile Fish Farms Upon Advisement of the Chilean Government - Hydro-electric Visit Still On

Haakon 'safe,' but drops controversial fish-farm visit

An official royal visit to Chile has been trimmed once again, with Crown Prince Haakon dropping a long-planned visit to a Norwegian-controlled fish-farming operation because of labour and security trouble. Palace officials insist the crown prince is in no danger, though.

Chilean authorities advised the crown prince against going ahead with a visit to fish-farming facilities run by AKVA Group and Marine Harvest in Puerto Montt. Norway's ambassador to Chile, Pål Moe, told reporters the visit was cancelled because of an ongoing labour conflict at both plants.

No threats were lodged against the crown prince, and Chile's protocol chief Antonia Pena said "it's not dangerous for him to travel to Puerto Montt." Rather, the Chilean authorities issued a press statement that they didn’t want such a high-ranking person as the crown prince to visit places hit by such a conflict.

"It's too bad the visit can't be made, but I'll follow the advice the Chilean authorities give," Crown Prince Haakon said.

(But not the advice of the Mapuche: Mapuche Protest against Norwegian Hydroelectric Power )

Troubled trip

Environmentalists and critics of salmon farming had called for Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit to cancel their entire trip to Chile. They claimed that Norwegian-backed fish-farming operations in Chile exploit local workers and threaten wild salmon in the area.

(See: Chile's Flourishing Fish Farms Prompt Fears for Ecosystem )

Others have protested the royal visit because native groups in southern Chile are upset over plans by a Norwegian-owned firm, SN Power, to build a power plant in their area. A royal visit, they argue, would seem to condone the controversial plans.

Mette-Marit ended up staying home, after palace officials said she'd developed an acute case of stomach flu. Haakon traveled alone to Santiago, arriving Wednesday, and said he felt it was "right" to make the trip because of important ties between the countries.

Disappointed

Marine Harvest’s chief executive, meanwhile, claimed there was no conflict at his firm that warranted Thursday's cancellation. "We are very disappointed and don't understand this," said Leif Frode Onarheim. "At the same time, we respect the authorities' decision."

He thinks a workers' occupation at AKVA Chile may have prompted the cancellation, and that authorities fear the same could occur at other plants. AKVA Chile officials couldn't be immediately reached for comment.

Representatives of Norway's trade unions' congress, LO, had visited fish-farming operations in Chile last fall, and called for improvements in working conditions and terms. Marine Harvest is the world's largest fish-farming firm, while AKVA Group supplies equipment to the industry.

Another controversial visit carried out

Crown Prince Haakon went ahead with the visit to SN Power. "I'm convinced that SN Power is in a good dialogue with the local population, the Mapuche folk,"

(See: SN Power representatives have been only arrogant and unyielding to local concerns up until now. )

Crown Prince Haakon said. "I have worked with native peoples and their challenges through my engagement in the UN. I’m well aware of the issues."

(This sounds positive: Chile Terror Law Violates Due Process for Mapuche)

SN Power was formed in 2002 by Norwegian state-owned power agency Statkraft and Norfund to construct export ($$$ to exploit) Norway's hydro-electric expertise overseas.

(See: Power for the Mapuches but not for Uganda- Norwegian Government owner, SN Power, pulls out of Uganda hydroelectric venture citing economic unviability )

The Mapuche people fear their lands will be damaged and their livelihoods threatened by a hydro-electric plant.

The crown prince said it was essential that the local population be included in all planning and that their concerns be heard (but not heeded) . He said he was relying on SN Power's management (instead of checking the facts for himself) that they're doing so.

Here is the full article.

Leading Norwegian environmental group demands royal couple drop official trip to Chile on "ethical grounds".

One of Norway's leading environmental groups wants Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit to cancel their official trip to Chile next week, on "ethical grounds."

Officials of Norges Miljøvernforbund have sent an open letter to the Royal Palace, with copies to Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, the president of the Norwegian Parliament Thorbjørn Jagland and the government minister in charge of business and industry, Dag Terje Andersen.

The group is unhappy that the royal couple will visit, and therefore seem to support, Norwegian businesses active in Chile that Norges Miljøvernforbund claims are environmentally unfriendly.

(Al Gore faced similar problems on his visit: Al Gore Dumps Barrick Gold Sponsorship for Chile Visit - Mining sponsorship risked "contaminating" and making a mockery of Gore's campaign. )

The group specifically opposes the royals' planned visits to fish farming businesses. Kurt Oddekalv of Miljøvernforbund claims that salmon farming in Chile "hits ecosystems hard" in areas where "local fishermen are seeing their livelihoods destroyed by Norwegian capitalist interests."

(See: Chile's Flourishing Fish Farms Prompt Fears for Ecosystem )

Oddekalv demanded in his letter that the royals abide by their own ethical and environmental platforms and cancel the visit.

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit are due to be in Chile for three days. Visits to facilities run by Marine Harvest and SN Power are on their official agenda. The latter company has provoked anger among the native population in southern Chile who fear a new hydroelectric power plant will ruin their lifestyles.

(See: Mapuche Protest against Norwegian Hydroelectric Power , Norwegian Power Projects in Mapuche, Chile Heartland Plunder Environment )

Norges Miljøvernforbund, also known as Green Warriors of Norway, describes itself as an idealistic environmental organization, founded in May 1993 and headquartered in Bergen.

Here is the full article.

SN Power's (Statkraft Norfund) Norwegian Royal Couple Prepared to Face Critics in Chile

Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and some top Norwegian officials will likely need to deal with some critics when they visit a few controversial Norwegian-controlled businesses in Chile next week.

The royal couple's official visit to Chile is meant, in part, to highlight and drum up new business ties between Chile and Norway. The local population, however, isn't altogether happy with at least two of the businesses already there.

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit are due to visit, for example, Marine Harvest. It's the world's largest seafood producer, controlled by Norwegian tycoon John Fredriksen, but it's been under attack by labour leaders both in Chile and Norway.

They claim Marine Harvest maintains poor working conditions for its employees and threatens them against joining labour unions. Norway's trade union congress LO released a critical report this week on both Marine Harvest and another Norwegian seafood producer, Cermaq, that it has forwarded to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry.

Marine Harvest has been having problems in Chile and logging losses, not least because of illness among the salmon it farms. Both wild salmon advocates and environmental groups have claimed that Marine Harvest's farming methods aren't environmentally friendly.

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"Norwegian seafood companies come to Chile and do things they'd never get away with at home," said Dave Bard of the National Environmental Trust's Pure Salmon Campaign in Washington.

Stefan Woelfl, a scientist at the Austral University of Chile in Valdivia, has conducted numerous studies of the region's lakes to determine the environmental impacts of salmon farming, which he described as serious.

"But if I find problems in a lake, I don't direct my complaints toward the company -- I direct the complaint to the government," Woelfl said. "The company didn't do anything wrong according to the law. It's the state that is allowing it to happen."

See: Chile's Flourishing Fish Farms Prompt Fears for Ecosystem
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Marine Havest officials have bashed the LO report, calling it "misleading" and full of "undocumented claims." Company spokesman Arne Hjeltnes said Marine Harvest has a "tight dialogue" with its labour organizations, and welcomes cooperation with them (so long as they don't demand improvements?). LO defended the report, saying it was based on many interviews with sources in Chile.

Meanwhile, another company owned by the state is also under fire in southern Chile. SN Power has sparked the anger of native groups over its planned construction of a hydroelectric plant.

(See:

Mapuche Protest against Norwegian Hydroelectric Power

Norwegian Power Projects in Mapuche, Chile Heartland Plunder Environment

SN Power, Norway, & Pacific Hydro, Australia, move on La Confluencia dam project on the Tinguiririca River- effort to reduce Europe's Carbon Emissions

SN Power (Statkraft Norfund) to cancel 600 million dollar hydro-power project after exec. shot at by Mapuche sympathizer in Santiago, Chile )

Company officials and Norway's government minister in charge of business and industry, Dag Terje Andersen, expect to meet criticism when they appear at the companies and participate in a seminar on fish health. It remains uncertain whether they'll also meet formal protests or organized demonstrations.

Here is the full article.

Future Norway King & Queen to Lay the Cornerstone of SN Power's New Plant in Chile to offset Carbon Emissions from Norway's Thriving Oil Industry.

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway

A state-owned Norwegian power company has angered native groups in southern Chile, and someone fired shots at a company executive earlier this week. The incident involving SN Power comes just two weeks before Norway is sending one of its royal couples to Chile, partly in the hopes of drumming up more (carbon credit) business between the two countries.

(See: SN Power, Norway, & Pacific Hydro, Australia, move on La Confluencia dam project on the Tinguiririca River- effort to reduce Europe's Carbon Emissions )

There as yet have been no changes (to visit the Mapuche maybe?) made to the official program of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who are due to launch their visit to Chile on January 28. They're expected to lay the cornerstone for one of SN Power's new plants.

The three-day royal visit, the first since the late King Olav visited Chile in 1967, will include a large delegation of business executives from Norway. The royals are often used as so-called "door openers" (pawns) for Norwegian business keen to establish new contacts overseas, and all royal visits are aimed at strengthening ties between Norway(i.e. parasite) and the host country.

(No visits are scheduled for Uganda: Power for the Mapuches but not for Uganda- Norwegian Government owner, SN Power, pulls out of Uganda hydroelectric venture citing economic unviability )

Ironically(???), the Norwegian-owned SN Power has instead incurred the wrath of some living in southern Chile. The native Mapuche population claims SN Power's plans to build four hydroelectric plants in their area will threaten holy lands, dry up an important waterway and riverside land and dramatically alter their lifestyle.

(To undersand why, see what Spain (Endesa) has done to the Mapuche:

Journeyman Pictures presents "Damming of the Biobio River" - Endesa SA verses the Mapuche - What to expect from Endesa during the HydroAysen struggle.

Switch Off - 2004 Documentary of the Mapuche struggle against the international energy conglomerate, Endesa SA

Endesa Strategy & Tactics I – Revisiting the Ralco & Pangue Hydroelectric Projects on the Rio Bio Bio )

In an advertisement (wake up call) placed in newspaper Aftenposten last November, representatives for the Mapuche people claimed they have long opposed SN Power's plans and their concerns have been overlooked. They claim the new power plants also violate international treaties ratified by the Norwegian state regarding territorial rights and consideration.

SN Power, which specializes in renewable energy (while Norway is the world's third larget oil exporter), is 50 percent owned by Norway's Statkraft and 50 percent by Norfund. It develops, owns and operates wind and hydropower assets in India, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Peru and Chile.

(While Simultaneously: The Norwegian government is an active participant in and co-owner of Norwegian petroleum operations, both through the state-owned oil company Statoil and the government’s direct financial involvement. See: Cognitive Dissonance)

It describes itself as a long-term investor, and SN Power officials claim they are committed (in their opinion) to "social and environmental sustainability." Mario Marchese, the SN Power executive in Chile who was shot at on Monday, suggested the local population has misunderstood (?) the company's intentions.

(The Mapuche understand only too well: Hydroaysen Keeping Public in the Dark, Say Chile Dam Critics )

"They hear the word 'hydro' and think (Rio Biobio, Ralco, Pangue & Endesa) that large land areas will be submerged," he told newspaper Cronica Digital. "There aren't any power projects that won't affect the environment, but we want our effects to be minimal (tourists love dry rivers). Our alternative is the best for the country (like the SN Power projects in Uganda). We won't pollute the waters. All facilities will be built underground (and all profits will go to Norway)..."

Company director Nils Husby was careful not to blame the Mapuche people for the shooting, and their representatives have denied having anything to do with it.

One local mayor in Chile, however, said SN Power hasn't inspired confidence. "The people must be respected," Alejandro Kohler, the mayor of Panguipulli in Chile's Los Rios area, told Cronica Digital. He said they fear damage to the environment and increased long-term unemployment, even though development of the power plant can provide new jobs (???).

(IBENER S.A.'s two run of the river hydroelectric stations on the Duqueco River require 25 employees to operate: Professionals & Executives = 8, Technicians = 10, Administrative = 5, Aides = 2. See: IBENER S.A. 2002 Annual Report.)

Here is the full article.

Related Stories:

SN Power (Statkraft Norfund) to cancel 600 million dollar hydro-power project after exec. shot at by Mapuche sympathizer in Santiago, Chile

Mapuche Protest against Norwegian Hydroelectric Power

Power for the Mapuches but not for Uganda- Norwegian Government owner, SN Power, pulls out of Uganda hydroelectric venture citing economic unviability

SN Power, Norway, & Pacific Hydro, Australia, move on La Confluencia dam project on the Tinguiririca River- effort to reduce Europe's Carbon Emissions

Power for the Mapuches but not for Uganda- Norwegian Government owner, SN Power, pulls out of Uganda hydroelectric venture citing economic unviability

SN Power pulls out of unviable Uganda power projects

Norwegian multinational hydropower developer and operator Statkraft Norfund Power Invest AS (SN Power) is pulling out of four mini-hydropower dam projects in western Uganda.

Though the pullout is on the grounds of the project’s financial viability, SN Power is selling its license to another Norwegian power firm.

SN Power announced in December 2004 that it would make Uganda its entry point for Africa in the energy sector. The government had hoped its entry would help improve Uganda’s ailing energy sector when it began generation of 43.5 Megawatts of power in six districts in western Uganda.

The company said it decided to withdraw from the projects in August this year because they were deemed financially unviable.

“SN Power gave up the Muzizi and Nengo Bridge licence rights because we realised the projects would be not be commercially viable,” said Marte Lerberg Kopstad SN Power’s external relations manager.

“The Waki and Bugoye projects were developed to the point of investment decision, but SN Power decided not to go further as they did not fit our corporate strategy and the commercial viability was not strong enough.”

Mr Kopstad told The EastAfrican that SN power had decided to sell its rights to Norwegian power company Troenderenergi. This will now mean that residents of western Uganda will have to put up with irregular or no power supplies longer than the 24-month construction period.

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Energy Commissioner Paul Mubiru however said the pullout does not spell doom for the western districts as Troenderenergi is already preparing to continue with construction work at these sites.

The relatively small hydropower stations are expected to cost between $50 million and $60 million.

The Norwegian government, with some 100 years of experience in developing hydropower, owns SN Power. The company, licensed in November 2004 by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), was expected to demonstrate its expertise on four sites in western Uganda.

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About five per cent of Uganda’s population has access to electricity, and the 250MW Bujagali hydropower project under construction and eight other mini-hydropower projects are expected to expand production to another 15 per cent of the population and attract more industries to a country where domestic usage accounts for 70 per cent of power consumption.


(Read about what Norway's SN Power intends for Chile's indigenous Mapuche people: Mapuche Protest against Norwegian Hydroelectric Power , Norwegian Power Projects in Mapuche, Chile Heartland Plunder Environment )

Here is the full article.

Norway launches carbon-offset program for officials flying abroad

There's Always the Phone

Norway launches carbon-offset program for officials flying abroad

World leaders like to kick off the year with stirring energy-related pronouncements. But this New Year's Day, in a speech peppered with grand statements, Norway Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg made a concrete pledge: the country will begin buying credits (to build Chilean Dams) to offset the greenhouse-gas emissions of all public employees who fly abroad. Motivated in part by warming trends and the fact that "children are no longer able to make snowmen," Stoltenberg said the program, which a national news agency estimated would cost about $400,000 a year, could set an example. "If only a few do this, it means little," he said. "If many join in, it can mean a great deal." Currently, the only other country with such a program is Britain, which has been offsetting government travel since April. While Norway's plan earned praise from some, others were less effusive, suggesting that as the world's third-largest oil exporter, the nation should focus on home-based emissions first. Maybe next year.

Here is the full article.

Norwegian Power Projects in Mapuche, Chile Heartland Plunder Environment

SN Power Projects in Chile:

SN POWER CHILE

SN Power has been active in Chile since early 2003. A local holding company has been established to follow-up ongoing projects and develop new opportunities.

In the Tinguiririca Joint Venture, SN Power is constructing the La Higuera project (Which was recently fined for submitting a false environmental impact statement.) in addition to developing a second project, La Confluencia. Further project opportunities are evaluated within the same river system.

Additionally, a back up thermal power plant will be built: Colmito. Other potential projects are being developed in the Los Rios Region. The

Tinguiririca Project is the first building-block in a strategy to become a top four player in the Chilean central grid by 2010.

Tinguiririca River
(50/50 JV with Pacific Hydro)

La Higuera,155 MW (Finished in 2008)
La Confluencia 145 MW (Construction beginning 2007)
Central Colmito, 60 MW (Thermal)
Las Damas, 60 MW
Portillo, 40 MW

Trayenko Project Proposed
(80/20 JV with G. Pavez)

Pellaifa, 75 MW (Rio Tolten Basin - Proposed)
Liquiñe, 125 MW (Rio Valdivia Basin - Proposed)
Maihue, 300 MW (Rio Bueno Basin - Proposed)

Cost & Time Line
EPC cost MUSD 600
Feasibility Studies and EIA 2006-07
Decision to proceed 2007-08
Commercial operations 2012-14


Sources:

SN Power Corporate Credentials Presentation (pdf)
SNPower 2006 Annual Report (pdf)

Mapuche Protest against Norwegian Hydroelectric Power

The indigenous Mapuche population is escalating its struggle against the plans for hydroelectric industry in an important tourist area. SN Power claims it has local support in Chile.

The Norwegian hydroelectric power giant SN Power has big plans for Chile. The company has already started constructing one plant and has another four projects on the drawing pad.

The planned plants have a total value of about NOK 3 billion (391 million €) and will be larger than any other investment the company has made abroad. SN Power, which is jointly owned by Statkraft and Norfund, believes it has nothing to worry about. “We perceive that the majority of the local population now welcomes the projects and considers this a possibility for jobs and local economic development,” SN Power told Norwatch.

The Chilean critics do not agree. “The resistance has never been greater,” claimed anthropologist Silvia Schoenenberger in the human rights organisation Observatorio de Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenos.

Chile’s indigenous population, the Mapuche Indians, have attempted to stop three of the company’s four planned projects. In September the Chilean Mapuches protested against the Norwegian hydroelectric project. Posters against the project have been hung along the roads in the area, and activists travel from village to village to mobilise against the hydroelectric plants.

The Mapuches have in the past century been marginalised in large areas of their traditional habitat in Chile. One of the main areas for their culture is today in the mountains in the eastern part of the country. There they to a great extent live on tourism. The Mapuche fear that the hydroelectric project will threaten their livelihood.

The Dictatorship Laid the Premises

“The company bought the rights to this water without considering that it is located in the middle of Mapuche territory”, anthropologist Schoenenberger told Norwatch.

She said the problem of water rights in Chile can be traced back to the time of the dictatorship. Then it became possible for individuals and companies to buy the right to rivers. As a result, many of the rivers in southern Chile are in the hands of national and international companies. These quickly end up in conflict with indigenous populations and other Chileans who have traditionally made use of the water.

According to Schoenenberger, the river water to which SN Power has bought the rights is already being used by local communities in the area. The water is important both for animal husbandry and agricultural purposes, and the population is unsure whether there is enough water for both the company and themselves.

“The importance of the water and the rivers to the Mapuche communities furthermore extends far beyond the simple use of the water”, said Schoenenberger and explained that the rivers have a deeply religious meaning to the inhabitants.

Critical Mayor

One of the mayors in the region, Alejandro Kohler, has also taken up the fight against the project. At a demonstration in September the mayor made an appeal against the plans. “Today there is a growing development in the tourist industry here. My opinion as a mayor is that the plants that may possibly be constructed here will disturb the development of the tourist industry”, Kohler told a Chilean newspaper.

“We must oppose a plant of this dimension, for it is not a matter of just one but at least three or four plants. That will have an extremely negative effect on our area, on our people and on our nature”, Kohler said.

Here is the full article.

False Environmental Impact Statements induce Regional Environment Commission to Implement Fines.

The Mayor of the Region of O'Higgins, Hector Leiva called entrepreneurs who built hydroelectric plants in the region to think more about the environment at all stages of production, stressing that the Regional Environment Commission (Corema) will be inflexible in applying fines and penalties for those who destroy the flora, fauna and natural resources in the areas near their structures.

These statements were issued by the Mayor after the meeting of the Regional Environmental Commission (Corema), which took place the morning of Tuesday (2006-03-29) in Prat Hall of the Regional Inspector. At the time, Hector Leiva said that despite the need energy to the country, there must be a respect for environmental standards, including the generation of jobs that could be created these hydroelectric projects.

He referred, in particular, to environmental problems tied to the construction of the hydroelectric station, La Higuera, on the Tinguiririca River, which suspended operation by the orders of Corema. The mayor noted that the owners (Pacific Hydro & SN Power) will report, in a forthcoming meeting of the Corema, about the mistakes that were made in environmental studies and the corrections made to address them. "Subsequently, the a decision will be made on possible fines and compensation from this company," he said.

"We must not ignore the country's energy needs and our region as well, but they should not destroy the environment, it belongs to all of us. We must be consistent and compatible with all of these activities. Today, technology and the will to implement it exists, and this company (Hydroelectric La Higuera) will make repairs and be subject to the control that we are pursuing through the Corema," said the Mayor.

Regional director of the National Commission for the Environment, Hector Gonzalez, said that in the short term he will organize a tripartite commission, along with the owners of the hydroelectric project with the goal of restarting operations next May.

This article was translated from Spanish.
The original article in Spanish can be found here.