Chile’s leading astronomy institutions issued a formal warning on Tuesday after a private developer advanced plans to build a large renewable-energy complex near the Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert, one of Earth’s darkest regions for scientific observation. Specialists said the proposal threatens a globally critical research site because new artificial light, dust, and atmospheric disturbance could undermine ongoing studies of planetary formation and cosmic evolution. The international community emphasized that the Atacama’s rare combination of dry climate, elevation, and minimal light pollution has enabled discoveries central to understanding the universe. Scientists argued that replacing these natural advantages with industrial activity would create an adverse environment for precision astronomy.

Officials explained that the project remains under environmental review, but astronomers expect major operational disruption if wind turbines, solar fields, and hydrogen-fuel facilities are constructed within close proximity to sensitive telescopes. ESO representatives said even small disruptions could compromise image stability, adding that light pollution in the area may increase by more than 30%. Researchers described the potential impact as an acute setback for global science because observatories in dark-sky regions are already limited. They also warned that losing Paranal’s clarity would diminish long-term progress on studies involving black holes, exoplanets, and early-universe behavior. Analysts stated that the dispute illustrates a broader global tension between conservation of natural darkness and expansion of large-scale industrial projects. Chile currently hosts nearly 40% of the world’s astronomy infrastructure, making decisions in the Atacama significant for scientific communities worldwide.