Peru

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The majestic mountain range of the Andes runs alongside the Pacific Ocean, giving birth to Peruvian Rivers, most of which drain into the Amazon River Basin. The Peruvian Amazon is an area of rich biodiversity, sustaining bountiful fisheries, diverse wildlife, and the livelihoods of indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. Its rivers provide rich sediments and nutrients to the Amazon mainstream.

However, the construction of close to 50 dams on Peru’s rivers, mostly on the eastern drainage, could have significant consequences for the health of the Amazon River and tributaries and the array of life they support.

In April 2009, a memorandum of understanding signed between Brazil and Peru included the development of six large dams in Peru for export of energy to Brazil. In total, Brazil is interested in building up to 15 hydropower plants in the Peruvian Amazon, all for export to feed Brazil’s giant aluminum and extractives industries.

Two projects, the Inambari (2000 MW) on the river of the same name in Madre de Dios province, and the Paquitzapango Dam (2000 MW) on the Ene River in the Junin region have been prioritized.

Peru

Inambari Dam would flood 46,000 hectares of land, which would leave more than 15,000 people without agricultural lands and thus their main source of livelihood. The project would also flood portions of the Inter-Oceanic highway , for which Peruvians already paid a massive price. The project would be developed by Brazilian state energy companies and financed by BNDES, the Brazilian National Development Bank. The price tag could be more than US$4 billion

The Ashaninka indigenous communities describe the Ene River as "the soul of our lands, the river [that] feeds our forests, animals, plants, crops and most of all our children." The Paquitzapango Dam would impact the Otishi National Park and the Ashaninka Communal Reserve as displaced populations would most probably colonize these areas. Many Ashaninka would lose their livelihoods and farmlands. Several local indigenous organizations, such as the Coordinating Committee of the Ashaninka of the Ene River (CARE) and the regional indigenous organization AIDESEP, are demanding that true consultations with the indigenous people occur in accordance with ILO Article 169, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Peruvians have expressed opposition to the projects because of the environmental and social impacts, including current Environment Minister Antonio Brack. Many also question the lack of adequate planning of these projects and the benefit for Peruvians, given that most of benefits would go to Brazil, with Peru left to bear the costs.

Other dams considered for construction are Sumabeni (1,074 MW), Urubamba (940 MW), Vizcat¡n (750 MW) and Chuquipampa (800 MW), Tambo 40, Tambo 60 and Mainique. Transmission lines would also be integrated into the Brazilian system. International Rivers is working with Peruvian groups to develop a strategy to defend Peruvian rivers and the rights of potentially affected communities.