An armed group attacked the construction site of the Rucalhue hydropower plant on Sunday, located approximately 550 kilometres south of Santiago, Chile, setting fire to dozens of vehicles and industrial equipment. The site is being developed by Rucalhue Energia Spa, a subsidiary of China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE), at an estimated cost of $350mn.
According to Chilean police chief Renzo Miccono, the assailants forced security personnel to evacuate under threat before setting fire to 45 trucks and five earthmoving machines. Two guards were injured during the attack. The site, located along the Biobio River, has faced local opposition, particularly from indigenous communities concerned about environmental impacts.
Official condemnation and request for protection
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China strongly condemned the attack and requested security assurances from the Chilean government. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated at a press conference that China wished to cooperate closely with Chilean authorities to ensure the safety of infrastructure projects and personnel in the country.
On the Chilean side, Security Minister Luis Cordero described the incident as a terrorist act, though no details were provided regarding the identity or motives of the attackers. He committed to increasing security presence in high-risk zones and to prosecuting those responsible for the attack.
Rising tensions around foreign energy projects
The Rucalhue hydropower plant is part of a series of foreign-backed energy initiatives in Chile aimed at diversifying the country’s electricity supply. However, the growing number of sabotage incidents and community resistance has raised concerns about the security of foreign investments in critical infrastructure.
Opposition to these projects, often driven by local concerns, may affect delivery timelines and increase operational costs. Authorities have yet to announce a suspension of the works, but the incident may prompt a reassessment of security protocols across foreign energy projects active in the region.
