Controversy in Chile over plans to export melting glaciers to Qatar
Tuesday, 14 May 2013 19:15
Written by Jordan GreeneChilean ambassador accuses foreign media of mischaracterizing government role in plans to export freshwater run-off from Patagonian ice field to Middle East.
A Middle Eastern newspaper caused a storm of controversy in Chile this week after publishing an article stating that Qatar would import water extracted from melting glaciers in Patagonia.
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This story is beyond odd, with breaking reports and denials, then more breaking reports.
The odd thing is that Northern Chile’s Atacama desert is the driest place on earth with water shortages.
Why would a company export water to literally the opposite end of the planet when his own country needs it.
Chileans are furious about it. (Click this link to read another story about it)
It is not even clear how serious this venture was.
We have to keep an eye on it.
If it is true, Argentina (who owns the other half of Patagonia) will get into the act, and Argentina has more glaciers.
Wouldn’t it be cheaper for Qatar to build a desalinization plant?
But for that, they would have to call in Israeli expertise, not Chilean?