Gunmen launched a violent assault on a Chinese-owned hydroelectric power plant under construction in southern Chile on Sunday, setting fire to dozens of vehicles and building technology.
The targeted facility, the Rucalhue power plant, is being built by Rucalhue Energia Spa, a subsidiary of China International Water and Electric Corporation ( CWE), with a projected investment of$ 350 million. It is located along the Biobio River, about 550 kilometers ( 340 miles ) south of Santiago.
According to police captain Renzo Miccono, the armed attackers threatened security personnel before setting fire to the page. ” They proceeded to lose all the technology there was at the page,” he said.
The abuse led to the destruction of 45 vehicles and five parts of earth-moving technology. Two security soldiers were injured during the event.
The comes amid the continued opposition from Indigenous communities that the task is facing. Critics have raised concerns about its economic impact on one of Chile’s major waters.
Chile’s Security Minister Luis Cordero described the attack as having” a criminal nature” due to its location and organizing.
Rucalhue Energia Spa said it is now evaluating the financial loss from the loss.
