President of Chile: “We have created an environment of dialogue, trust and certainty in the energy sector.”

The President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, accompanied by Energy Minister Máximo Pacheco presided over the inauguration of the Ancoa-Alto Jahuel transmission line in the municipality of Buin today.

This project will increase the efficiency and safety of the Central Interconnected System (SIC) and will double the capacity of power transmission between the Maule and Metropolitan regions. As a result, the amount of time needed to restore power to customers following power outages will be reduced.

“This initiative confirms that we are making decisive progress in changing how our energy is generated and transmitted, given that we have enormous natural and human potential to move toward developing dynamic and sustainable energy sources,” the President said.

The new 500 kV main transmission line will run from the Ancoa substation in the Colbún municipality to the Alto Jahuel substation in Buin. With a length of 255 km, the transmission line passes through 18 municipalities and three regions: Metropolitan (Buin and Paine), Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins (Mostazal, Codegua, Machalí, Requínoa, Rengo, Malloa, San Fernando and Chimbarongo) and Maule (Teno, Romeral, Curicó, Molina, Río Claro, Pelarco, San Clemente and Colbún).

“The government is pleased to see the progress being made on our Energy Agenda. We have created an environment of dialogue, trust and certainty in the energy sector, we have emphasized the strategic character of this sector, and we have reversed the slowdown in investment,” she noted.
With respect to electricity generation, the President pointed to advances made during her administration.

“When we took office, 28 power plants with a capacity of 1,949 MW were under construction. Today a total of 52 are in the process of being built with a capacity of 4,182 MW, 46% of which are based on renewable sources of energy. These numbers reflect a 115% increase in generating capacity compared to March 2014,” the President said.

In reference to this last point, the President stressed that “the country is moving towards more inclusive and sustainable development, and we are modernizing in many other areas as well.”