Pascua River, Patagonia

International Rivers reports that blasting has begun on the first of five several dams slated for Chilean Patagonia:

“The Chilean energy company Colbún, controlled by the Matte Group and partner with Endesa in the HidroAysén mega-project, has initiated blasting at the site on the San Pedro River where they intend to build a 144 MW dam. …

“We received the news of the blasting yesterday from rafting guide and tourism operator Roberto Coronado, who said that he received a phone call from a Colbún executive that the river was no longer accessible to the boating community as blasting was to begin Wednesday at 1 PM.

” ”It was one of the worst things I’d heard in my entire life,’ said Roberto. ‘My family and I have been connected to the river our entire lives. I swear I cried yesterday afternoon, because this is just too much.’ “

International Rivers has a major campaign underway to stop the damming of wild Patagonia. As part of this campaign, the organization is pressuring Home Depot for its ongoing financial involvement with the main Chilean interest promoting the dams. Two direct actions against the company have taken place in the U.S. in recent months.