World · 10 February 2026
Chile project cancelled to protect world's clear skies.
Y. Beletsky (LCO)/ESO via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
AES Andes formally withdrew its proposed $10bn INNA green hydrogen and ammonia facility following intense opposition from astronomers. The massive 3,000-hectare project in Chile’s Atacama Desert included three solar plants and a port, which scientists warned would irreparably damage the world's clearest skies near the Paranal Observatory. The European Southern Observatory celebrates the cancellation, though experts demand urgent protection measures for the region's pristine stargazing conditions.
Reported by Guardian · How we write briefs