Since its inception in 2007, the Alto Maipo Hydroelectric Project (PHAM) in the Cajón del Maipo, Chile, has been the subject of controversy due to its poor design, incomplete environmental assessment, and lack of consultation with affected communities. This megaproject has faced strong opposition from social and environmental organizations, particularly from the Coordinadora Ciudadana No Alto Maipo (CCNAM).
This report was co-created with Marcela Mella Ortiz, a well-known leader of the CCNAM, based on a series of interviews conducted between September 2024 and April 2025. Its purpose is to contribute to the collective memory of the struggle against the Alto Maipo hydroelectric project, to share advocacy and communication strategies, and to shed light on some of the many dimensions of its impact on the communities of San José de Maipo, including reprisals carried out by the companies involved against residents and local activists. The report also examines the role of public development banks that financed the project and offers recommendations to improve their practices.