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SANTIAGO (AFP) – A disputable $3.2 1000000000 hydroelectric send billed as key to satisfying Chile's ontogeny forcefulness needs but potentially an environmental concern, got a naif reddened Monday.

A regional environmental commission in the modify and dewy southward of the South dweller country authorised the large HidroAysen send as thousands of protesters took to the streets to strip against it.

The two-billion-euro send entails the cerebration of fivesome hydroelectric noesis stations, two along the Baker River and threesome on the Pascua River, in an area whatever 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles southward of Santiago).

Expected to verify 50 eld to build, it would generate 2.75 gigawatts of forcefulness -- or 20 proportionality of underway capacity -- to support meet Chile's forcefulness needs, which are due to process 80 proportionality by 2025.

Approval by the regional environmental commission had been widely due despite formal contestant from naif activists hunt to protect the Patagonia region.

Thousands took to the streets around the country to protest against the project, and in the top metropolis police used liquid hoses and tear gas to disperse around a thousand protesters and said they inactive about a dozen people.

Other demonstrations were reportable in Valdivia and metropolis in the southward and metropolis in the west, where police also intervened to disperse the crowds.

The paths used for whatever 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) of noesis cables and towers are ease person to a removed environmental analyse and could order another $4 1000000000 dollars in investment.

A coalition called "Chilean Patagonia Without Dams" contends the send is unnecessary and would threaten pristine forests in a location that includes widely admired glaciers and lakes.

Opponents verify it module taint wild areas of Patagonia, flooding whatever 5,900 hectares (14,000 acres).

They argue that the forcefulness would be used mainly for the defence sector, that the environmental analyse has been inadequate, and that Chile should pursue inferior harmful forcefulness sources much as solar and wind.

An opinion enquiry in Apr showed 61 proportionality of Chileans opposed the project.

But the association of Chile's Endesa and the land concern Colbun SA has launched its possess open relations effort, claiming the send would display clean, renewable forcefulness and turn obligation for imported fossil fuels.

President Sebastian Pinera said Chile, where economic growth is estimated at 6.5 proportionality and forcefulness is rationed, has few alternatives, especially with thermonuclear noesis existence reconsidered in the consequence of the hardship in Japan.

"If HidroAysen is authorised it would be 100 proportionality in compliance with environmental legislation," Pinera said over the weekend. "If we don't have hydroelectric energy, there module be more coal-fired noesis plants."

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