Chile environmental approvals up in August

Chile’s environmental review agency SEA approved 32 projects worth US$2.18 billion during August, compared with 33 projects worth US$1.37bn in July.

The investment increase was mainly due to energy projects.

SEA approved 12 energy proposals, two fewer than in July, but investments increased from US$866 million to US$1.74bn, according to the agency’s monthly report.

In mining, one project for US$10.5mn was approved, down from four for US$41.5mn.

Approvals for real estate projects, including hospitals and sports venues, in addition to housing, increased from six for US$218mn to eight for US$271mn.

No transport or port infrastructure projects were approved, but one worth US$2mn in the water infrastructure segment.

The biggest projects which obtained a positive environmental qualification resolution (RCA) during August were:

– Pampas solar-wind hybrid park (US$800mn);
– Llanos de Rungue photovoltaic park (US$250mn);
– Halcón 9 transmission line and BESS center (US$121mn);
– Halcón 3 transmission line and BESS center (US$114mn);
– Halcón de Almagro transmission line and battery energy storage solution (BESS) center (US$112mn).

SUBMISSIONS 

In August, 41 projects worth US$2.13bn were submitted, compared to 54 for US$16.8bn in July.

But July saw the submission of major projects like an US$11bn green ammonia proposal and the US$1.9bn metro line No. 8 for Santiago. 

In the ‘other’ category, which includes green hydrogen and datacenter initiatives, eight proposals for US$244mn were submitted, down from 15 for US$11.1bn.

The number of energy project submissions increased from seven to 12, but investments fell from US$2.93bn to US$1.39bn, while mining saw a decrease from seven proposals worth US$490mn to five involving US$44.6mn.

Real estate submissions fell from nine projects worth US$418mn to six for US$311mn.

No transport or port projects were submitted, but three for US$120mn in the water infrastructure segment.

The biggest submitted projects were: 

– Tambillo transmission line and BESS system (US$608mn);
– Cristaria Solar photovoltaic park (US$335mn);
– El Sobrante photovoltaic project (US$181mn);
– Volcán Chascón photovoltaic park (US$155mn);

– New neurosurgery institute (US$147mn);

– Lo Recabarren real estate project (US$127mn).

Between January and August, 368 projects have been submitted for environmental evaluation, down from 386 during the same period in 2023, but investments rose from US$24bn to US$42.1bn.

Also, 200 projects have received a positive RCA so far this year, up from 151 a year ago, as investments increased from US$6.76bn to US$10.9bn.