Cancellation of $10bn INNA project welcomed by astronomers

The scientific community has welcomed the cancellation of INNA, a proposed $10bn, 3,000-hectare green hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Chile’s Atacama Desert. The plan included a port, transport links to the coast and three solar power plants, and had been under evaluation by Chile’s environmental regulator for almost a year.

Astronomers warned the plant’s proximity to some of the world’s most powerful telescopes would have irreparably damaged observations at what is the best site in the world for ground-based astronomy. Itziar de Gregorio, the European Southern Observatory’s representative in Chile, said: "This cancellation means that the INNA project will no longer have a negative impact on the Paranal Observatory." She added: "However, what this megaproject has brought to the table is the urgent need for clear protection measures around the sites where professional astronomy is carried out in Chile.

Chile, Atacama Desert

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