Los Lagos hydropower plant

The Los Lagos hydropower plant is a significant renewable energy project built by Statkraft in Chile. This run-of-the-river plant harnesses the water of the Pilmaiquen River to generate clean and low-emissions electric power which is much needed in the area. The project is designed to have an installed capacity of 52 MW, contributing to Chile's energy transition and sustainability goals. The plant is in the final phase of construction.

Project details

52 MW

Installed Capacity
Approximately 70%

Load Factor
35 meters

Dam Height
∼191.9 hectares

Reservoir Area

Project updates

19 Sep, 2024

Statkraft welcomes dialogue with additional indigenous groups in Chile

In 2023, indigenous groups filed a complaint against Statkraft for violations of the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct with the OECD contact point, which has decided to review parts of the case and initiate mediation on those issues.

Find our response here.

Environmental and social impact

Statkraft is dedicated to conducting thorough and proper human rights and environmental due diligence, ensuring that all processes are carried out with the highest standards of integrity and transparency. All activities and operations adhere to internal principles and commitments, which are aligned with international standards.

Human rights are a fundamental principle embedded in Statkraft’s Code of Conduct, which has been approved by the Statkraft Board of Directors.

To ensure that the Los Lagos project is socially responsible, Statkraft has established a human rights committee and conducts regular risk assessments and stakeholder dialogues. Specific initiatives include engaging with indigenous communities, implementing social investment programs, and maintaining open communication channels to address community concerns. Project layouts have been adjusted to address major community concerns. For example, Statkraft has withdrawn from the Osorno project due to concerns raised by local Mapuche-Huilliche communities about the cultural and spiritual significance of the project site.

Statkraft has also engaged third-party independent experts, Centro Vincular from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaiso, to conduct a comprehensive human rights due diligence study. This study focuses on the Los Lagos project as well as the human rights policy and practice within Statkraft Chile and Statkraft AS. The findings from this study, which relate to human rights risk management and disclosure, are currently being followed up by Statkraft Chile.

Engaging with local stakeholders

Statkraft prioritises transparency, trust-building, and meaningful, inclusive engagement with local communities. In the Los Lagos project, addressing community concerns has been a top priority. Statkraft has conducted more than 500 meetings with local communities. Transparent information is provided from the outset, even before the environmental assessment process begins. Engagement with the community occurs through formal legal processes, social investment programs, and maintaining open communication channels to address any concerns.

One key initiative is the Wise Council, a platform for engaging with indigenous communities. This council allows community members to participate in discussions and share their perspectives on various projects and initiatives. By leveraging local knowledge and fostering community engagement, the project aims to balance environmental stewardship with the need for clean energy in Chile.

The Los Lagos project also includes a Participatory Monitoring Plan to oversee the environmental, social, and archaeological performance of the project. This plan encourages the participation of interested parties and generates reliable, transparent, and objective information for the communities about the impacts of the project's activities or other industries in the basin. Open calls for participation are made periodically, and instances of teaching and training are provided in monitoring and in the variables measured in each panel. Visits and accompaniment to field consultants are scheduled, monitoring reports are reviewed, and information is analyzed, discussed, and shared.

Statkraft Chile has established a dedicated communication channel to ensure continuous dialogue with community members. This mechanism allows individuals to present their concerns, complaints, or questions directly to the company, ensuring inclusivity, confidentiality, and timely responses. Additionally, the project has developed a training plan to promote local hiring and enhance the skills of people from communities close to the project.

Work Plan for Sites with Archaeological Findings

During the environmental assessment of the project, the site to be occupied by Los Lagos project was studied. This is, more than 200 hectares, including the reservoir area.

The survey was carried out following the authorization of the National Monuments Council (CMN) of Chile – entity in charge of safeguarding the cultural patrimony – and resulted in the finding of ceramic fragments and carved stone pieces.

These archaeological remains are located in an area of less than one hectare, in a site located in the reservoir area of the plant, at 2.5 km from the area where the construction works are being developed.

These sites have been previously used in agricultural and cattle industries of the area.

Statkraft has the authorization of the National Monuments Council (CMN) to rescue these findings, which will be executed son.

The reservoir impounding for Los Lagos plant is the last stage of the project. The rescue of the archaeological pieces will be executed before this; therefore, it will not be impacted by the impounding.

It is not real that the site where these archaeological findings are will be damaged by the construction of the project.
It is important to mention that Los Lagos Project also considers an Archaeological Supervision Plan while excavation works are being executed for the construction of the plan, which includes the permanent presence of an archaeologist, professional that will safeguard the cultural patrimony, as well as any potential finding.

More information about the project

Participatory Reforestation

Statkraft Chile together with the Indigenous Community Catrihuala are developing a reforestation plan which includes the knowledge and ancestral techniques of the communities in the reforestation...

Participatory Monitoring

To review and follow-up the environmental agreements that need to be fulfilled during the construction of Los Lagos plant, we have in Statkraft a Participatory Monitoring Plan, which considers the par...

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