Energy and Mining Newsletter
March 31st , 2016(Bi-weekly publication) Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Chile ([email protected], +56-2-22284214
Summary : Energy-related news in Chile during the two weeks of March, 2106 have been dominated by the trends observed in renewable energy. Special emphasis has been given to them from the Government of Chile. In the mining sector the volatile price of copper continues to affect small and medium size mining companies and placing pressure on big firms to lay off personnel.
Chile invested significantly on renewable energy in 2015 (LT)
Electricity Transmission Companies asked to eliminate prohibition to invest in generation (DF)
The report “Global Trends Investment on Renewable Energy 2015” produced by the UN Program for Environment and the Frankfurt School place Chile among the 10 countries with highest investments on renewable energy during 2015.
According to the report the Chilean investment grew 151% respect to 2014. Close to 2,200
million dollars were invested in solar energy.
According to the executive director of ACERA – Association of Renewable Energy- indicated that “the renewable energy industry (except hydro) has over 2,500MW in construction.
Other countries included in the report are: China, USA, Japan, Great Britain, India, Germany, Brazil,
South Africa, and Mexico. In total, this report points out that US$3.400 million were invested on renewable energy in Chile, for the first time investment on renewable energy were higher in developing countries that in developed nations.
Source:
http://www.latercera.com/noticia/tend encias/2016/03/659-674260-9-chile- entre-los-10-paises-del-mundo-que- mas-invirtieron-en-energias- renovables.shtml
Private companies such as Transelec and Celeo Redes requested the Energy and Mining commission of the Senate to eliminate the prohibition for them to invest in the generation sector.
The Chilean law clearly separates the three main phases of energy:
generation, transmission and distribution. Legal instruments expressly prohibit the integration of
these sectors, which according to different actors, hinders companies with possibilities to engage in at least two of the key activities:
generation and
distribution.
Currently several aspects of the Chilean energy sector are being discussed in the National Assembly, in order to transformed it from a private-interests dominated sector into a more flexible one, with
stronger participation of the State and the citizens. The main laws regulating the energy sector were issued in the decade of the 80s, which calls for loud voices of reform to bring energy prices down which could impact the competitiveness of the country.
Source:
https://www.df.cl/noticias/empresas/
actualidad/empresas-de-transmision- electrica-piden-eliminar-prohibicion- para/2016-03-21/225719.html 016- 03-09/213514.html
Main Headlines March 16-31st
-Chile among the 10 nations with higher investment in renewable energy, 2015 (LT) - Lithium is back on the public debate as Chilean concessionary firm SQM intends to exploit 40,000 tons in Argentina (LT, DF) -Hydro resources are moving to the center of public policies in Chile as the Law of Water´s discussion progress (DF)
-Transmission infrastructure limits the growth of renewable energy market (LT).
- Construction of aeolian and solar power plant triple while construction of hydro power plants grow 43% (LT).
This publication is based on articles and notes included in three daily newspapers of extensive circulation in Chile: El Mercurio (EM), la Tercera (LT) and Diario Fianciero (DF). Main covered topics are related to economy, energy and mining sector.
Links to the online version of the sources are included
