The Energía Austral project is being developed with total adherence to Xstrata Copper’s sustainable development policies. As a result, the Environmental Impact Studies for the three plants consider variables related to the diversity of species and their ecosystems, producing research and knowledge that will remain as a legacy to the area. No land in the three hydroelectric projects’ area of development is a Biodiversity Conservation Priority Site or is part of one.

The project also includes an extensive reforestation programme, with research and monitoring for reforestation with native species in order to compensate for the areas affected by its activities. The studies being carried out in this sphere by Energía Austral may represent a significant step for the restoration of large areas of old forest in the Aysén Region.

The reforestation programme represents an important research challenge and it is estimated that it will require an average of 100 workers over a period of close to 20 years.