Mapuche Williche communities in southern Chile have filed a formal complaint in Norway against Statkraft AS, Europe's largest renewable energy producer, alleging the state-owned company failed to meet human rights due diligence obligations in its operations on indigenous lands.
The complaint, filed with Norway's Consumer Authority by the Aylla Rewe del Ngen Mapu Kintuantü—an autonomous Mapuche Williche organization representing over 150 communities in and around the Pilmaiquén River basin—centers on two hydroelectric projects: the Rucatayo facility and the larger Los Lagos development. The filing is supported by ProDESC and the Initiative for Transnational Justice.
The communities challenge whether Statkraft obtained free, prior and informed consent—a cornerstone principle in indigenous rights law—before proceeding with plans that would alter ancestral territories. The Pilmaiquén River holds profound cultural and spiritual significance for Mapuche Williche people, serving as the center of ceremonial life, healing practices and ancestral memory. The hydroelectric projects threaten to inundate territories deemed sacred.
The complaint also flags concerns about threats to the safety and security of indigenous women, children and land defenders—a pattern documented in conflicts over resource extraction across the Global South.
"This is not merely a legal action; it is a call to protect life, memory and our sacred territory," said Machi Millaray Huichalaf, a Mapuche spiritual authority and representative of the Aylla Rewe. "We are asking Norway to listen to our message and act before the damage becomes irreversible."
Statkraft is 100 percent state-owned by Norway, a nation that has built its international reputation on human rights advocacy and indigenous rights commitments. This creates a direct line of accountability between the projects' impacts and Norwegian government responsibility.
Knut Hurum, the attorney representing the communities in Norway, previously represented the Sami people in the landmark Fosen wind farm case—a precedent that demonstrated how indigenous communities can leverage Norwegian transparency laws to challenge state-backed energy projects. Mapuche leaders are simultaneously pursuing cases through the Inter-American human rights system and United Nations mechanisms.
The complaint signals a broader reckoning with renewable energy development. As wealthy nations race to meet climate targets, hydroelectric and wind projects increasingly target indigenous territories in the Global South, often justified as necessary for the energy transition. The complaint argues that genuine sustainability cannot be achieved by sacrificing indigenous sovereignty and sacred places.
Statkraft has not yet responded publicly to the complaint. The company has previously stated that it follows applicable laws and international standards in its operations.
Mapuche representatives plan to travel to Norway next month to present their case directly to Norwegian authorities, civil society organizations and media outlets. For communities in the Pilmaiquén basin, the complaint represents both a legal action and a statement of refusal after a decade of local resistance.
