US$205mn AWS Chile datacenter gets environmental nod

Chile’s environmental review agency SEA gave AWS the green light for a US$205mn datacenter project in Santiago’s Padre Hurtado district.

The project involves a data facility, emergency electrical generation systems, low-water consumption air conditioning and cooling and fire control systems on an 18.7ha property. It was submitted in September 2022 and subject to multiple observations and addendums.

While the final qualification report has not yet been published, the facility appears as approved in SEA’s system.

When consulted by BNamericas, AWS preferred not to comment on the project specifically, adding that “we maintain our long-term commitment to Chile, announced when we opened our first office in the country in 2017. We have invested and will continue to invest in infrastructure, such as the AWS local zones in Santiago, in training and education of qualified talent and in initiatives that favor the scientific and technological development of the country, such as the Data Observatory Foundation.”

SEA recommended approval in late December, as the project complies with all requirements. Water authority DGA also confirmed that the facility complies with all applicable regulations.

The project's useful life is 30 years. It will have 12 emergency generators with respective diesel fuel storage tanks. 

In the first construction stage, starting in March 2024 and ending in April 2025, a 4,630m2 data facility will be built. Operations should start one month after construction concludes.

The facility will be extended by 3,470m2 in a second stage, scheduled for December 2028. Operations are expected to start in April 2030.