Industry Megaproject Threatens World's Darkest Skies

SANTIAGO, CHILE - December 24th, 2023 - A massive industrial complex proposed by AES Andes, a subsidiary of US power company AES Corporation, has sparked concerns among astronomers and environmentalists about its potential impact on the world's darkest skies.

The project, which would be located just 5 to 11 kilometers from telescopes at the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Paranal Observatory in Chile's Atacama Desert, threatens to destroy one of Earth's last truly pristine dark skies. The observatory, also known as ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT), has led to significant astronomy breakthroughs since its inauguration in 1999.

"This is a critical risk to the most pristine night skies on the planet," said Xavier Barcons, Director General of ESO. "Dust emissions during construction, increased atmospheric turbulence, and especially light pollution will irreparably impact the capabilities for astronomical observation."

The project entails an industrial complex spanning over 3,000 hectares, close in size to a city or district like Valparaiso, Chile or Garching near Munich, Germany. It includes constructing a port, ammonia and hydrogen production plants, and thousands of electricity generation units near Paranal.

"This is not just harming a small region; it's threatening our understanding of the universe," emphasized Itziar de Gregorio, ESO's Representative in Chile. "Chile, and particularly Paranal, is a truly special place for astronomy — its dark skies are a natural heritage that transcends borders and benefits all humanity."

The relocation of this project has been proposed to prevent irreversible damage to Paranal's unique skies, safeguarding the future of astronomy and preserving one of Earth's last truly pristine dark skies.

ESO has called on governments and regulators to reconsider the proposal and explore alternative locations for the industrial complex that do not endanger the world's most important astronomical treasure.