Number of projects entering Chile environmental review system climbs 64% in April

The number of projects submitted for environmental review in Chile climbed 64% month-on-month in April.

Environmental review agency SEA received 54, compared with 33 in March, while associated investment also rose, to US$3.31bn from US$2.26bn.

The energy sector, in line with an established trend, accounted for the bulk last month: 19 projects with a combined price tag of US$1.75bn. 

Eleven mining projects for a total of US$673mn were also submitted, according to SEA’s monthly report. 

The government has permitting reform bills in congress, which it hopes to get approved by the end of the year.

The draft legislation is among those lawmakers agreed to fast track in congress.

PROJECTS GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT

SEA approved 33 projects in April for a combined US$1.80bn. Of these, energy accounted for 17 and outlay of US$1.56bn.

In March, the agency gave the green light to 24 projects involving US$1.73bn of which 10 were energy projects involving US$1.43bn.

Four projects for a combined US$390mn were rejected, among them a US$324mn zonal transmission project. Fifteen for a combined US$944mn were pulled from the system.

APRIL 2023

The number of projects and associated investment submitted in April of last year was lower: 48 and US$1.60bn

The number of projects and associated investment approved that same month was also down: 22 and US$533mn.

RECENT SUBMISSIONS

In terms of projects submitted so far in May, among them are infrastructure and logistics initiatives with a combined price tag of over US$100mn.

The infrastructure project, planned for Valparaíso region and branded the expansion and improvement of Víña del Mar airport, modifies an existing project.

With a price tag of US$43.6mn, work involves building a new passenger terminal and control tower, among other infrastructure.

The public works ministry, which submitted the project, has forecast 900,000 passengers a year will use the facility. The work would permit the operation of new domestic services as well as flights to and from Argentina. 

Meanwhile, the Chilean unit of US retail giant Walmart is seeking the green light to expand, via an investment of US$85mn, its logistics warehouse in Pudahuel district, Santiago metropolitan region.

OVERALL PROJECT PIPELINE

Last month 443 projects for a combined US$59.5bn were in the environmental review phase. Of the total, 84 entered via the environmental impact study route and the balance via the environmental impact statement pathway, typically adopted by projects with a limited environmental footprint or impact.  

Energy accounted for 183 projects and outlay of US$22.7bn, and mining 42 and US$9.87bn, respectively.