Spotlight: Chile's largest infra projects under environmental review

The 12 largest infrastructure projects under environmental evaluation in Chile entail nearly US$6.4bn in investments, but review has been going on for two years for some of them, according to evaluation agency SEA. 

Long evaluation periods have also been cited as obstacles for projects in other sectors, such as mining, energy and desalination.

However, both the current government and society are demanding increased environmental protections related to risks, such as water scarcity, air pollution and protection of flora and fauna. 

Biggest projects under review

La Farfana logistics center (US$70mn): The environmental impact study (EIS) was presented by Bodegas San Francisco on July 1. It entails expanding a logistics center in Santiago’s Pudahuel district. Works include expanding the storage area to 467,916m2, adding 40 parking lots for trucks and 694 for light vehicles. 

Works are expected to begin in early 2025, documents show. 

Andrés Sabella airport modernization (US$104mn): Environmental impact assessment (EIA) submitted by the public works ministry (MOP) on June 17. It entails remodeling and adding 21,230m2 to the passenger terminal of Antofagasta region’s Andrés Sabella airport, for a total of 31,422m2, as well as increasing the size of the apron, a new control tower and new administrative facilities. 

The EIA states that works are expected to begin in early 2027.

Valparaíso metro, Quillota-La Calera extension (US$680mn): EIS was submitted by state-owned rail firm EFE in April. 

This project entails adding 26km and five stations to Valparaíso’s metro system (Merval), linking it to the municipalities of Quillota, La Cruz and La Calera. Works are expected to begin in 2025. 

Routes 68-78 link corridor (US$259mn): The EIS was submitted by Grupo Costanera subsidiary Sociedad Concesionaria Conexión Vial Ruta 78-68 in February. 

It involves building a 9.2km expressway linking routes 68 and 78 in Santiago’s Maipú and Pudahuel districts. 

Works are expected to begin in early 2023.

Lo Aguirre logistics center (US$105mn): Bodegas San Francisco submitted an EIS in January. It entails expanding an existing center in Pudahuel. Works include increasing the storage area from 174,988m2 to 655,330m2, increasing parking lots for light vehicles from 773 to 2,279 and spaces for trucks from 115 to 190. 

Construction is scheduled to start in early 2024.

Alameda underground rail (US$250mn): EFE presented an EIA for this project in November 2021 as a modification of the US$1.55bn Melipilla-Alameda rail line, which is already in construction.

This addition would entail a 3.5km underground section of the 61km line. The tunnel would be built between the Estación Central 2 and Alameda stations in Santiago.  

An amended version of the EIA was submitted on April 27, mentioning an estimated construction date of July 2023. 

El Loa airport upgrade and expansion (US$142mn): EIA was submitted by MOP in May 2021. 

Works include expanding the passenger terminal of El Loa airport (Antofagasta region) to 30,159m2, a new 1,090m2 building for personnel from the civil aviation authority (DGAC), improving 9,150m2 of runways, expanding the apron to 65,500m2 and revamping the parking lot. 

The original EIA set a December 2023 date for construction start, which remained unchanged after the MOP submitted an amended version in January. 

G-21 highway concession (US$87mn): Sociedad Concesionaria Ruta G-21, a consortium comprising local firms Conpax and Icafal, presented an EIS in October 2010, which has been amended twice, and at one point evaluation was suspended amid the COVID-19 health emergency.

The project involves improving the 30km road linking Santiago’s Las Condes district and Farellones village, which is the main entrance to the country's ski resorts.

Other works include the rehabilitation of a 1.1km section that links the road to Los Bronces mine.

The latest amendment, presented earlier this month, set an estimated construction start date for the first half of 2023.

Copiaport-E (US$450mn): Copiaport-e Operaciones Maritimas presented an EIS in September 2020, following a previous proposal that was not allowed for review a year prior due to “lack of significant information.”

Since its submission, the evaluation has been suspended once, while the EIS was amended in June 2022. 

It entails building a port complex in the municipalities of Caldera and Copiapó (Atacama region), which will have a bulk terminal with capacity of 10Mt/y, and a multipurpose terminal with container handling capacity of 300,000TEUs, 150Bt/y of general cargo, and 150Bt/y of fertilizers. 

The amendment states that works are expected to begin in March 2023.

AVO II expressway (US$714mn): EIS was submitted in July 2020 by Grupo Costanera subsidiary Sociedad Concesionaria Américo Vespucio Oriente.

Review was suspended between early 2021 and July 2022, while two amendments have been submitted to respond to observations. 

The project entails a 5.2km underground expressway linking Santiago’s La Reina, Peñalolén, Ñuñoa and Macul districts.

The expressway will also link to AVO I, built by another concessionaire and finished this year. 

Works on AVO II are expected to begin in January 2023.

San Antonio large-scale port (US$3.5bn, pictured): The largest infrastructure project under evaluation. Its EIS was submitted by state-owned port operator EPSA in April 2020 while review is suspended until August 31 at the proponent’s request.

The project entails the construction of two 98.2ha terminals, two 730m berths, and the installation of a 4km breakwater. Once completed, the port is expected to handle 6MTEUs annually.

This project has faced pushback from locals and some authorities due to its potential impact on nearby wetlands in the municipality of San Antonio (Valparaíso region).

EPSA has yet to submit an amended EIA, while the original document stated works would begin in April 2022. 

Andina Route improvement (US$70.6mn): The EIS was submitted by MOP in October 2018. Evaluation has been suspended twice, with the second one planned to end in March 2023.

The project involves upgrading a 128km stretch comprising routes A-235 and A-95 in Arica y Parinacota region, between its intersection with route 11-CH and the border with Tarapacá region.

The original EIS set an estimated construction start date for November 2020, but the amended one didn’t include an update.