Chile environmental submissions up in July

Chile’s environmental review service SEA received 54 submissions during July, up from 35 the previous month, as investments surged to US$16.8bn from US$4.81bn, thanks to a massive green hydrogen project.

The US$11bn HNH Energy project planned to be built in Magallanes region entails several components for the production and transport of green ammonia, which is made by combining green hydrogen with nitrogen.

Overall, 15 projects in SEA’s ‘Other’ category were presented, entailing US$11.04bn, including HNH Energy. In June, three initiatives worth US$26.7mn were presented for review, according to SEA’s monthly report. 

Energy submissions remained flat at seven, but investments fell from US$3.27bn to US$2.93bn. The number of mining projects fell from 10 to seven and investments from US$1.3bn to US$490mn.

Real estate, which includes social infrastructure such as hospitals, sports complexes and parks, saw an increase from five to nine projects, with investments rising from US$178mn to US$481mn.

No water infrastructure projects were submitted, but SEA received one transport infrastructure and one port infrastructure project for US$1.9bn and US$650,000, respectively.

Other major projects were:

– Santiago metro line No. 8 (US$1.9bn);
– Altos del Sol photovoltaic park (US$1.38bn);
– Llanos del Sol photovoltaic park (US$635mn);

– hydrocarbon well drilling at Picuyo sub-block (US$300mn);

– Polaris energy storage system (US$255mn);

– Mining truck electrification at Escondida Norte (US$250mn);– Altair energy storage system (US$240mn);

– new cancer institute (US$184mn);

– Guanay photovoltaic plant (US$160mn);

– Mantoverde mining operation optimization (US$150mn).

A total of 327 projects have been submitted for evaluation in the first seven months, one more than in the year-ago period, although large green hydrogen projects pushed investments from US$18.9bn to nearly US$40bn.

APPROVALS

SEA granted 33 positive environmental qualification resolutions (RCA) during July, up from 20 in June, with related investments slightly increasing to US$1.37bn from US$1.36bn. 

Overall, 14 energy projects were approved in July, compared to seven in June, while investments climbed to US$866mn from US$549mn.

No RCAs for mining projects were approved in June but four worth US$41.5mn in July.

Real estate approvals remained flat at six, but investments dropped from US$545mn to US$218mn.

There were no positive RCAs for water infrastructure in July and June.

One transport infrastructure project, involving US$105mn, was approved and one in the ports area for US$1mn.

The biggest approved projects in July were:

– Parral solar park (US$200mn);

– Chirigues photovoltaic park (US$190mn);

– Planchón photovoltaic park (US$186mn);
– Chimango photovoltaic park (US$140mn);
– Lo Aguirre logistics center (US$105mn).

A total of 168 projects have received a positive RCA during the first seven months, compared to 131 in the same period of 2023. Investments grew from US$4.98bn to US$8.72bn, thanks to strong increases in the energy and real estate categories.