Ventana case

The case Ventanas is a typical case in that the economic power was imposed over that public health and the environment safe. Since 13 years ago, that was known about the pollution generated for the Codelco refinery of cupper.

There are previous studies and reported that alerted to the authorities about the pollution in the area of Puchicaví and village Vantanas. In this time was too far, children of La Greda school had to be evacuated for the air was stifling by cloud emanating from the chimney of the refinery.

The main problems is the type of fuel used for the refinery, the petcoke, fuel that is cheaper than other alternatives like coals or gas, but it is more polluted. The petcoke is made up of solid waste resulting from oil refining process concentrates so highly carcinogenic heavy metals such as nickel and vanadium, elements identified by the World Health Organization to cause lung cancer and nasal and to facilitate the development of more than ten types of respiratory diseases mainly.

The use of this fuel is mainly for economic reasons, a ton of petcoke cost between 1 and 40 dollars (according to their quality), while that price of coal is ten times less and 20 % cheaper than gas. This is the reason for the generating companies to pressure the authorities to approve the use of petcoke as fuel, enabling them to remain on the market. No doubt, big business for the company, but at the cost of the lungs of people.