Mexico’s state power utility CFE has cancelled the power supply contract signed with EDF Renewables for its 252MW Gunaa Sicarú Gunaa Sicarú (252MW) OnshoreOaxaca, Mexico, North America Click to see full details wind energy project.
The cancellation was the result of a court ruling, CFE confirmed. It also follows protests by economic, social and cultural rights group ProDESC and the Union Hidalgo indigenous group who have been campaigning against the €310 million project located in the south-western state of Oaxaca.
“After five years defending the right to land and territory, EDF’s Gunaa Sicarú megaproject has been cancelled,” activists ProDESC stated.
The campaigners have opposed the project since EDF unveiled its plans in 2017, accusing the French company of signing secret agreements designed to divide the local community and contrary to the consultation process which authorities had to carry out on the project.
“This cancellation serves as a precedent for the multinationals and the indigenous communities and shows that we can cancel these projects if we organise,” said Guadalupe Ramirez, a human rights campaigner from Union Hidalgo.
A spokeswoman for EDF would not comment on the decision.
In October 2020, the protestors took their fight to the French court system where they managed to convince a French judge to hear their case against EDF.
The move comes as President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador seeks to strengthen the control of CFE over the power market by limiting the market share of private power generators which have invested heavily in wind capacity over the last decade.
The Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico’s south-west has become a major centre for wind energy with almost 3GW of capacity installed in the state of Oaxaca alone.
