Snapshot: Construction contract winners in Chile’s first transmission auction of 2023

Chile’s grid coordinator CEN awarded a series of construction contracts for transmission projects as part of its first auction of 2023.

The planned work, requiring US$105mn in investment, corresponds to energy ministry decrees No. 200 of 2022 and No. 185 of 2021. Officials awarded 16 projects out of 21 offered.

Eight parties had submitted technical proposals and bids for the work.

The biggest project in terms of planned investment is the expansion of transmission firm Transelec’s 220kV Don Héctor substation and sectioning of the 2x220kV Nueva Maitencillo-Punta Colorada line.

Winning bids came in above, in some cases more than doubling, the reference prices published earlier in the year. 

As things stand, regulatory authorities manage the process to secure construction firms for expansion projects. A bill in congress returns responsibility for expansion works to the property owners to help streamline the process.

ALSO READ: Transmission expansion processes underway in Chile

CEN’s second transmission auction of 2023 is also underway. Officials are seeking bids for 15 new-build projects with a combined price tag of US$414mn. Overall estimated investment in conditional expansion projects is US$99.6mn. 

Officials also have ancillary services auction underway along with a transmission open season for expansion and new-build works deemed urgent and necessary. Fourteen projects were recently presented as part of the open season. The next phase involves providing detailed proposals. 

WINNING PROJECTS IN THE FIRST TRANSMISSION AUCTION OF 2023

Project: Expansion of the 220kV Don Héctor substation and sectioning of the 2x220kV Nueva Maitencillo-Punta Colorada line

Infrastructure owner: Transelec 

Reference price: US$10.0mn

Winning bidder: Ingeniería Agrosonda

Award price: US$18.8mn

***

Project: Expansion of the capacity of 1x220kV line Charrúa-Hualpén, stretch corresponding to Concepción-Hualpén

Infrastructure owner: Transelec

Reference price: US$4.21mn

Winning bidder: Elecnor Chile

Award price: US$10.0mn

***

Project: Expansion of the Panguilemo substation

Infrastructure owner: Compañía General de Electricidad

Reference price: US$3.17mn 

Winning bidder: Andaluza de Montajes Eléctricos y Telefónicos, Agencia en Chile

Award price: US$5.43mn

***

Project: Expansion of the 220kV La Pólvora substation.

Infrastructure owner: Casablanca Transmisora de Energía

Reference price: US$2.29mn

Winning bidder: Elecnor Chile

Award price: US$3.45mn

***

Project: Expansion of the Nueva Pozo Almonte 220kV substation

Infrastructure owner: Red Eléctrica del Norte

Reference price: US$2.08mn

Winning bidder: Andaluza de Montajes Eléctricos y Telefónicos, Agencia en Chile

Award price: US$4.29mn

***

Project: Expansion of Casas Viejas substation

Infrastructure owner: CGE Transmisión

Reference price: US$5.38mn

Winning bidder: Andaluza de Montajes Eléctricos y Telefónicos, Agencia en Chile

Award price: US$6.93mn

***

Project: Expansion of the Peñablanca substation

Infrastructure owner: Chilquinta Transmisión

Reference price: US$3.89mn

Winning bidder: Andaluza de Montajes Eléctricos y Telefónicos, Agencia en Chile

Award price: US$6.84mn

***

Project: Expansion of the 66kV Los Maquis substation, new transformer and sectioning of 2x66kV line Itahue-Talca

Infrastructure owner: CGE Transmisión

Reference price: US$4.86mn

Winning bidder: Monlux Chile

Award price: US$6.63mn

***

Project: Expansion of San Pablo substation

Infrastructure owner: Enel Transmisión Chile

Reference price: US$4.24mn

Winning bidder: Sistema de Transmisión del Sur

Award price: US$5.55mn

***

Project: Expansion of the Leyda substation

Infrastructure owner: CGE Transmisión

Reference price: US$3.68mn

Winning bidder: Cavalla Construcciones y Montaje Limitada

Award price: US$5.50mn

***

Project: Expansion of the 220kV Lagunillas substation

Infrastructure owner: Transelec

Reference price: US$1.87mn

Winning bidder: Andaluza de Montajes Eléctricos y Telefónicos, Agencia En Chile

Award price: US$3.34mn

***

Project: Expansion of the Hualqui 220kV substation

Infrastructure owner: Mataquito Transmisora de Energía

Reference price: US$1.89mn

Winning bidder: Elecnor Chile

Award price: US$2.86mn

***

Group No. 3

Winning bidder: Andaluza de Montajes Eléctricos y Telefónicos, Agencia en Chile

Award price: US$13.6mn

Project: Expansion of the Hospital substation

Infrastructure owner: CGE Transmisión 

Reference price: US$4.60mn

 

Project: Expansion of the Isla de Maipo substation

Infrastructure owner: Compañía General de Electricidad 

Reference price: US$3.15mn 

***

Group No. 5

Winning bidder: Monlux Chile

Award price: US$11.89mn

Project: Expansion of the Chimbarongo substation and sectioning of the 1x66kV San Fernando-Teno line

Infrastructure owner: CGE Transmisión

Reference price: US$4.37mn

Project: Expansion of the Las Cabras substation

Infrastructure owner: Compañía General de Electricidad 

Reference price: US$3.08mn