Chile environmental submissions fell in 2023 but investments rose

Chile’s environmental review agency SEA received 582 submissions last year, compared to 626 in 2022, but planned investments increased from US$40.9bn to US$42.8bn thanks to large energy, mining and transport infrastructure projects.

Of the total, 210 submissions related to energy, up from 164, with proposed investments rising from US$15.7bn to US$18.9bn, according to SEA’s monthly report.

The number of mining proposals fell from 103 to 64, but investments spiked from US$1.6bn to US$12.7bn.

Investments in transport infrastructure rose from US$1.54bn to US$2.09bn, while the number of submissions fell from 11 to seven.

Water infrastructure submissions fell from 23 proposals worth US$15bn in 2022 to 14 worth only US$92.6mn.

The numbers for environmental cleanup, port infrastructure and farming submissions also declined. 

APPROVALS

Project approvals fell from 367 to 243 amid calls to speed up evaluations.

Approved investments went from US$18.2bn in 2022 to US$12.4bn in 2023.

Energy project approvals fell from 167 to 89, although investments increased from US$5.29bn to US$7.29bn.

SEA approved 27 mining projects, compared to 45 in 2022, while investments declined from US$6.61bn to US$2.23bn.

Approvals in the transport, water and port infrastructure and real estate sectors also fell.

The government submitted a bill to speed up review proceedings earlier this month.

DECEMBER NUMBERS

In December, 59 projects were submitted for evaluation, up from 47 in November, while investments increased from US$5.40bn to US$5.65bn thanks to energy proposals.

There were 35 project submissions for energy in December compared to 19 November, as investments jumped from US$608mn to US$4.74bn.

Mining proposals increased from two to four, but investments fell from US$2.09bn to US$9.30mn.

There were no submissions in transport infrastructure in December, after two projects worth US$1.96bn were presented the previous month.

The biggest projects submitted in December were:

– Faro del Sur wind farm (US$500m), which was submitted twice during the month, as the first proposal was withdrawn by the proponent and the second accepted for review;

– Andino Longotoma photovoltaic park (US$200mn);

– Monte Águila photovoltaic park (US$264mn);

– San Carlos wind farm (US$241mn);

– BESS energy storage battery system (US$300mn);

– BESS Halcón 20 energy storage center and transmission line (US$500mn);

– green hydrogen project for Calama’s mining district (US$423mn);

– Vientos del Desierto wind-solar plant (US$650mn).

December saw environmental qualification resolutions (RCA) for 22 projects approved, compared to 29 in November. Investments fell from US$1.82bn to US$694mn.

Energy RCA approvals increased from eight in November to 12, although investments fell from US$1.27bn to US$602mn.

Mining approvals remained flat at two, while investments dropped from US$295mn to US$31.5mn.

There were no approvals for transport, port or water infrastructure.

The biggest projects to obtain a positive RCA in December were the Arboleda Solar photovoltaic park (US$180mn) and the Las Terrazas photovoltaic park (US$220mn).