Chile launches prequalification for US$180mn reservoir

Firms will have until April 7 to submit prequalification documents for the tender for the Zapallar dam in Chile's Ñuble region.

The project has a reference budget of 169bn pesos (US$180mn) and entails a dam with a 100m-high wall and capacity for 80Mm3 on the Diguillín river, documents show. 

The project already has environmental approval although local residents have opposed the reservoir, saying that it could increase flooding risks in the area and that citizen participation processes were not carried out correctly as they were held during the height of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on in-person meetings.

Submissions will be handled by the waterworks division (DOH) of the public works ministry (MOP). Documents can be seen here (in Spanish).