In southern Chile, residents and environmental groups are voicing strong opposition to a proposed port project intended to support the country’s growing green hydrogen and offshore wind industries. The project, expected to serve multiple companies including HNH Energy and Total Eren, is planned for ecologically sensitive areas such as San Gregorio and Gente Grande Bay in Tierra del Fuego. While the Chilean government promotes the initiative as key to advancing its renewable energy goals, conservationists argue it threatens fragile ecosystems, including habitats for species like Magellanic plovers, ruddy-headed geese, and local penguin populations near Inutil Bay.
Activists caution that large-scale construction—such as dredging, jetty building, and desalination—could transform the Magallanes region into a so-called “green sacrifice zone.” They also criticize the environmental review process, claiming it lacks transparency and overlooks critical risks like brine waste disposal. Without stronger environmental safeguards and meaningful consultation with local communities, experts warn the project could cause long-term harm to the region’s unique biodiversity and undermine Chile’s commitment to sustainable development. More