{"id":50368855,"date":"2023-05-30T23:38:58","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T22:38:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.dialogochino.net\/?p=368855"},"modified":"2026-03-30T09:21:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T08:21:18","slug":"368855-wind-farms-divide-indigenous-communities-in-colombia","status":"publish","type":"photo_story","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/energy\/368855-wind-farms-divide-indigenous-communities-in-colombia\/","title":{"rendered":"Wind farms divide Indigenous communities in Colombia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We left early from Uribia, a municipality in northern Colombia that borders Venezuela. It is part of La Guajira department, a rugged territory covered by dry forest, buffeted by intense winds and with a year-round temperature of 30C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was travelling with Ismenia Iguar\u00e1n, an environmentalist and Indigenous leader of the Wayuu people, on our way to meet other leaders who have raised opposition to wind power projects that are being built in La Guajira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iguar\u00e1n is concerned. Not only because of social conflicts that have arisen in La Guajira since the arrival of these projects, but also because of the region\u2019s high rates of poverty<\/a> \u2013 the highest in the country, at 67% \u2013 and malnutrition<\/a> that is mainly affecting children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"A<\/div>
A Wayuu woman doing craftwork in a community in central La Guajira (Images: David Gonz\u00e1lez M \/ Di\u00e1logo Chino)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A traditional wattle and daub house by a road in northern La Guajira (Images: David Gonz\u00e1lez M \/ Di\u00e1logo Chino)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

All along the almost deserted route, people from nearby communities blocked the roads with ropes to control the passage of visitors, the many checkpoints having seemingly become part of the landscape. Iguar\u00e1n speaks with them in Wayuunaiki, the official language of the more than 287,000 Wayuu people in this part of Colombia. Not all visitors are welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tensions have arisen in La Guajira over national development plans and announcements by the government of President Gustavo Petro outlining aims to make the department the \u201cepicentre<\/a>\u201d of the country\u2019s energy transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, there are 16 wind farms active or under construction across La Guajira, and more than 60 projects are planned or proposed to be built before 2030. But so far, the arrival of many of these facilities has spurred social tensions, particularly among Wayuu communities in the surrounding areas, with accusations of displacements, disagreements, extortion and even violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Guajira<\/div>
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An initial silence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After two hours enduring the intense heat and numerous checkpoints, we finally neared the Guajira I wind farm<\/a>. Built by Colombian energy company Isagen and operated by public utility provider EPM, the 20-megawatt facility is the largest such facility in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was 10 o\u2019clock in the morning and the driver warned us to be back early. \u201cIn the afternoon,\u201d he said, \u201cthe road is not safe for the arijuna<\/em>,\u201d using the Wayuu word for outsiders. He claimed there is a threat from armed assailants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon arrival, we met with one of the Indigenous leaders, who preferred to remain anonymous. He told us that he had received compensation from Isagen, as Guajira I passed through his land. Although he had initially agreed to do the interview, he later refused to speak for fear of reprisals from his neighbours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"windmills<\/div>
Part of a Wayuu community sits next to the Guajira I wind farm, in northern La Guajira. The community negotiated with Isagen, the company that built the facility, over construction on their land (Image: David Gonz\u00e1lez M \/ Di\u00e1logo Chino)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In the backyard of the neighbouring property stands a wind turbine more than 100 metres high, its long blades turning. The owner met us with suspicion. After speaking to Iguar\u00e1n in Wayuunaiki, she did not wish to be interviewed either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our presence seemed to put the people on high alert. After a while, two vans arrived. Their Wayuu passengers told us we were allowed to take photographs for a little longer, but that \u201cnobody is going to talk\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fractured projects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Exposed to coastal winds at Colombia\u2019s northern tip, the wind power potential of the Guajira peninsula began to be exploited 20 years ago, when the region\u2019s first wind farm, Jepirachi<\/a>, was built by EPM. Now, as the government of Gustavo Petro aims to kickstart the country\u2019s energy transition and accelerate<\/a> clean energy projects, it has put special focus on this northern department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Recommended<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/a>\n\n\n\n

Irene V\u00e9lez, the Minister of Mines and Energy, has made several trips to La Guajira in an effort to drive these objectives. During one visit, she said<\/a> that the region could become \u201cthe green energy capital of the world\u201d. The ministry\u2019s Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME) has reportedly found that La Guajira has the potential for around 15 gigawatts of wind power capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martha Isabel Cobo, a researcher at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and dean of engineering at the University of La Sabana in Bogot\u00e1, told Di\u00e1logo Chino that Colombia currently has just 184 MW and 39.5 MW of solar and wind energy capacity, respectively, accounting for just 0.8% and 0.1% of the country\u2019s energy mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said the need to transition towards clean energy is urgent, and reported promising projections: \u201cIn the coming years, a growth in installed capacity is expected in both solar and wind technologies. By 2027, 16,650 MW of solar and 5,795 MW of wind are expected to be installed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"a<\/div>
A community rebuilds its homes after a deal to relocate was struck with wind power company Isagen (Image: David Gonz\u00e1lez M \/ Di\u00e1logo Chino)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A Wayuu woman carries water from a treatment plant back to her village, in central La Guajira (Image: David Gonz\u00e1lez M \/ Di\u00e1logo Chino)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

But projects are not progressing at the expected pace, and gaps and inconsistencies in the consultation processes between energy companies and communities have in some cases led to serious conflicts. Some organisations have denounced<\/a> wind farms as presenting \u201ca new mode of extractivism<\/a>\u201d that could replicate the ills of the fossil fuel industry, creating disputes over land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An official from the Ministry of the Interior, who asked not to be named, explained that there have also been surprising delays to wind projects in La Guajira. They said the region\u2019s ongoing projects should by now be around 80% complete, but most have not even reached the 30% mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across the department, wind farms have encountered problems with communities on nearby lands. Issues have varyingly arisen relating to displacement, compensation and consultation over projects, with disagreements on these issues, in some cases, leading to breakdown in relations and violence among Indigenous communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n