The project, the first in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology in the country, is a strategic part of the government’s planning that transcends administrations to ensure a clean and efficient supply.
At a ceremony held on the grounds of the future Lo Aguirre Converter Substation, Conexión officially kicked off construction of the Kimal–Lo Aguirre HVDC line, a strategic project with a national vision focused on long-term development. The project reflects public-private coordination to enable critical infrastructure that strengthens the electrical system and reinforces supply security, with a focus on people.
This is Chile’s first HVDC transmission line and also the country’s most extensive transmission project, positioning Chile at the forefront of regional electrical infrastructure.
Maisa Rojas, Minister of the Environment; Sebastián Fernández, General Manager of Conexión; Nicolás Grau, Minister of Finance; and Álvaro García, Deputy Minister of Economy and Energy.
The event was attended by the Minister of Finance, Nicolás Grau; the Deputy Minister of Energy and Economy, Álvaro García; the Minister of the Environment, Maisa Rojas; the mayor of the Municipality of Pudahuel, Ítalo Bravo; and representatives of national, regional, and local authorities. They were joined by the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Chile, Niu Qingbao, representatives of the National Electricity Coordinator, the National Energy Commission, the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels, trade unions and associations, as well as leaders of neighborhood associations in the commune, contractors, banks, the media, and the board of directors, teams, and workers of Conexión.
At the event, Conexión’s general manager, Sebastián Fernández, emphasized that this milestone responds to a structural need in Chile that transcends governments. “Today we are beginning construction on a project that is the result of government planning and essential public-private coordination. Kimal–Lo Aguirre is not just infrastructure: it is the enabler that will allow renewable energy from the north to reach homes in a stable manner, making the transition to a cleaner energy matrix a concrete reality for people,” he said.
A STRATEGIC PROJECT FOR CHILE’S DEVELOPMENT
Likewise, the Minister of Energy and Economy, Álvaro García, highlighted the importance of completing the construction of the Kimal-Lo Aguirre transmission line. “This is a strategic project for Chile’s development because it stabilizes and provides security to the electrical system, in addition to bringing cleaner and cheaper energy from the north to the center of the country. For this reason, this project has been a priority for President Boric.“ The official added that ”costs will be reduced because cheaper energy will arrive from the north, which is not currently available in the center of the country. Of course, this will take time, because the transmission line has to be built and dirtier and more expensive forms of generation have to be phased out.”
Meanwhile, Environment Minister Maisa Rojas added that “Chile has a Framework Law on Climate Change that sets a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. To advance this goal, this transmission line is key, an enabling condition for achieving this objective because it allows clean energy to be brought from the north to the center and south of the country. In addition, the project underwent environmental assessment within a limited time frame, considering its territorial magnitude, and is a good example of how initiatives that meet high technical and environmental standards advance in our evaluation system.”
THE COUNTRY’S MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENT PROJECT
Regarding the investment in key infrastructure for Chile’s electrical development, Finance Minister Nicolás Grau stated that “this is the most important investment project in the country. It is key to decarbonizing the economy and doing so with energy security. The public-private partnership, led by the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA), has allowed us to move forward more quickly without lowering environmental standards.”
Regarding today’s milestone in the municipality of Pudahuel, Mayor Ítalo Bravo Lizana praised the start of construction and stated that “In Pudahuel, we firmly believe that the companies and institutions that set up in our municipality must integrate harmoniously and comprehensively with the community. This means generating shared value, listening to the needs of our neighbors, and actively contributing to the well-being of all. I am confident that this project will exemplify this vision by providing a close, respectful, and lasting connection with our people, our communities, and the territory, while fulfilling its environmental commitments.”
