government of Chile has rejected plans for billion-dollar mining project because it would disrupt marine life. The area that was threatened with mining is home to 80 per cent of world's Humboldt penguin. Other creatures that live in waters include blue whales, fin whales and sea otters. mining company called Andes Iron had wanted to extract millions of tons of iron and copper in north of Chile. It also wanted to build new port to facilitate mining process. Chile's Environment Minister told reporters: "I firmly believe in development, but it cannot be at cost of our environmental heritage or cause risk to health, or to unique ecological areas in world."
Chile's National Mining Society said decision was bad news for mining and for country. It said mining project was essential for economic development of region and country. The controversial mining project would have generated $2.5 billion in revenue. Government ministers said mining company had not shown full negative impact of mining project on local environment. It also questioned the project's finances. The Environmental Minister said: "There are deficiencies in basic information and insufficiencies in mitigation, compensation, and reparation measures, meaning we believe that eventual impacts have not been properly taken care of."
