Protests against Statkraft in Brazil
The newspaper Tjen Folket Media has reported on new protests against Statkraft, in this occasion in Uibaí, Bahia, Brazil, against the construction of a solar plant. Statkraft is a Norwegian-state company dedicated to the electric production with solar, wind and hydroelectric plants. It has plants in Europe, Asia and Latin America, among them Peru, Chile and Brazil itself, were it planned since years ago to increase its production on 2025.
The protests that arose in Uibaí are led by 50 organizations in the Grito do Caatinga alliance, which blockaded the road which provide access to the construction of the solar plant. They carried out banners and shouted slogans against the environmental authority, for approving the project, and against the company itself, demanding its eviction from the Caatinga forest.
The environmental authority has granted Statkraft 1,524 hectares of Caatinga forest, in addition to caves, waterfalls and archaeological sites to install 1,384,282 solar panels. It must be counted also that, in 2021, a wind power plant project, with 91 turbines divided in 14 wind farms was already developed. With this solar park, the plant will be one of the first hybrid projects of Brazil, combining wind and solar energy and batteries for storage.
However, the land is being robbed from the peasant communities, mainly the Fundo and Fecho de Pasto communities – which cultivated the land for more than 300 years – and additionally two Quilombolas communities, in benefit of Norwegian imperialism. On the other hand, this plant has a very negative effect on the fauna, putting several autochthon species at serious risk.
In November, prosecutors of Bahia sued Statkfraft for going against the environmental and human rights legislation and achieved to stop the project, but this decision was overthrown by a higher court. Hence, the protests continue.
This is not the first time that Statkraft faces protests from peasants from whom they rob their lands. In 2023, Tjen Folket Media also reported on Mapuche peasants demonstrating in Norway, demanding the closure of the hydro-electrical plant in the Holy Pilmaiquén river. Mapuche peasants were supported by the Sami people struggling against a wind turbine in Trøndelag, who stated during the march that “Mapuche has a lot in common with the Sami in Norway, and they have an enemy in common, Statkraft” and “We support the Mapuche people. It is shameful that Norway also destroys human rights abroad. It is possible to solve the climate crisis without shooting and stealing.”
