Chile’s Comité de Ministros confirmed environmental approvals on November 2, 2026, for two infrastructure and energy projects representing a combined investment of US$4.250 billion.
Puerto Exterior de San Antonio and Parque Eólico Los Portones
The ministerial committee maintained the favourable Resoluciones de Calificación Ambiental during its twelfth session under the current administration, reviewing administrative appeals filed against both initiatives. Ministers rejected claims filed against the wind farm while partially accepting appeals directed at the port development, leaving the underlying environmental permissions intact for both projects.
The regulatory body functions as the highest administrative environmental authority in the country for resolving administrative claims linked to projects submitted to the Environmental Impact Assessment System. According to information provided by the Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental, the panel accepted certain complaints against the port initiative in part without altering the favourable nature of its environmental rating.
The larger undertaking involves the Puerto Exterior de San Antonio in the Valparaíso Region, backed by an estimated investment of US$4.000 billion. The initiative builds new port infrastructure on the southern coastal edge of San Antonio to expand cargo transfer capacity and support central Chile’s foreign trade logistics. The approved plans also incorporate expansions to the G-908 route and segments of existing railway infrastructure.
The second project, the Parque Eólico Los Portones, represents an investment of approximately US$250 million. Developed by the French firm Engie, the facility will span the communes of Calbuco and Maullín in the Llanquihue Province of the Los Lagos Region.
Wind Turbines Deliver 148.8 Megawatts to Local Households
The renewable energy project incorporates 24 wind turbines with a unit capacity of 6.2 megawatts, delivering a total output of approximately 148.8 megawatts. Infrastructure plans include a 220 kV transmission line stretching 23 kilometers to connect generation facilities to the Pargua substation operated by Sistema de Transmisión Sur S.A. of the Saesa Group.
Local energy officials noted that the project could supply 150,000 households and lower local electricity rates once operational. Communities in the area had previously submitted a claim regarding potential ecosystem damage, but authorities dismissed the challenge.
Ministerial Panel Evaluates Projects Totaling US$22.000 Billion
The ministerial panel includes the minister of Economy, Fomento y Turismo and of Mining, Daniel Mas; the minister of Energy, Ximena Rincón; the minister of Agriculture, Jaime Campos; the minister of Health, May Paulina Chomali; and the minister of Environment, Francisca Toledo. During the discussion about the port project, the subsecretary José Ignacio Vial served as acting minister of the Environment.
Executive figures show that the committee has evaluated 28 projects totaling nearly US$22.000 billion in investments. Government records list total reviewed sums at US$ 21.996 billion across those 12 sessions.
| Project Name | Region | Investment | Core Infrastructure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Exterior de San Antonio | Valparaíso | US$ 4.000 billion | Two new port terminals, road expansion, railway integration |
| Parque Eólico Los Portones | Los Lagos | US$ 250 million | 24 turbines, 23-kilometer transmission line, BESS storage |
