Investigators probe suspected arson at Cancura wind farm in Chile

What happened

Chile's Investigations Police (PDI) and prosecutors are investigating damage at the Cancura wind farm, in the rural area of Angol in the La Araucanía region, as a suspected arson attack. According to the report, one or more people may have entered the site on a Sunday afternoon and used fire to damage pipework in the cooling zone of a turbine tower. Written slogans commemorating the social unrest and opposing the wind farm were found at the site.

The area is part of the Macrozona Sur, under a constitutional state of emergency. Political authorities described the damage as serious because the site is critical infrastructure. The extent of the damage and any effect on operations were not reported. The investigation is led by the PDI.

Contributing factors

The source does not state how the attackers gained access or what security measures were in place. The site was marked with slogans linked to social unrest and opposition to the wind farm.

Lessons learned

1. Remote wind sites in areas with civil unrest need perimeter security, intrusion detection and regular patrols or monitoring.
2. After any deliberate fire or intrusion, operators should inspect tower internals, cooling and piping systems for hidden fire or heat damage before restarting.
3. Operators should report incidents to police quickly and keep local authorities and communities informed to support the investigation and reduce the risk of repeat attacks.

More lessons on theft, arson and site security, structural integrity and turbines, emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.

Source

biobiochile.cl