The city where people live in darkness despite being next to one of the largest solar power plants
In Pampa Clemesí, Peru, more than 150 residents of a power plant are without power in their homes.
The residents of Pampa Clemesí, a small town in southern Peru, are forced to live in the dark. What’s most striking about this is that this place is also home to the country’s largest solar power plant.
Since 2018, rows and rows of solar panels have been installed on a project that will be completed in 2024 with the massive Rubí Power Plant, almost 1,000 kilometers south of Lima. Just 600 meters from the plant, there is a small village that has no connection to the power grid and survives the night with simple flashlights.
The company Orygen, operator of the Rubí plant, donated solar panels to the people of Pampa Clemesí. However, most residents cannot afford to pay for the batteries and converters needed to operate them. The paradox is obvious: a solar plant that produces 440 GW annually but is unable to reach more than 150 residents who live less than a kilometer from a power plant.
No light at the end of the tunnel
This is what happens when economic development doesn’t go hand in hand with social development. Moquegua, this region of Peru, receives more hours of sunshine per year than most countries in the world. A country that has welcomed renewable energy with open arms, which was projected to increase by 96% in 2024, but that leaves some of its citizens behind.
Solar and wind power are heavily dependent on copper, and Peru is the world’s second-largest producer. This indicates that the system has been developed around profitability and no effort has been made to connect low-density areas. The company Orygen states that it has joined the government’s project to bring electricity to Pampa Clemesí and says it has already completed the first phase of the electrification project, with an investment of $800,000.
However, the reality is that the lights have not been turned on in Pampa Clemesí, where homes don’t even have electrical outlets. They can’t communicate with their families or keep food in their refrigerators, but if they look out the window, they can see a small illuminated city, the Pampa Clemesí Power Plant.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.