The AIC recognized the country’s first high-voltage direct-current transmission line for its scale, pioneering nature, and contribution to the energy transition.

The Kimal–Lo Aguirre transmission line was recognized as the outstanding project of the year in the Energy category during the 2026 AIC Annual Meeting, “Chile + Connected: Greater Competitiveness, Growth, and Employment,” organized by the Association of Engineering Consulting Firms of Chile.

The Selection Committee praised the project’s scale and pioneering nature, the engineering and land-use challenges involved in implementing HVDC technology in Chile, and its contribution to the energy transition and national climate change mitigation commitments.

“Until now, Chile had only short-distance power lines. Kimal–Lo Aguirre is a long-term project that the country dared to undertake—a true high-speed highway for energy,” stated Carola Venegas, Sustainability and Public Affairs Manager at Conexión Kimal–Lo Aguirre, upon receiving the award.

In addition, the executive emphasized that “this award isn’t just for Conexión. It belongs to the engineers, consultants, contractors, and workers who are making this project a reality on the ground, and to the communities that have participated in this project.”

The transmission line will span 1,346 kilometers and pass through 28 municipalities, connecting the regions of Antofagasta and the Metropolitan Region to link the north’s renewable energy generation with the country’s main consumption centers. As the first high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) line, it introduces a technology to Chile that had never before been used in the national power grid.

“As an association, we wanted to recognize Kimal–Lo Aguirre because it represents an unprecedented engineering challenge in Chile. Incorporating HVDC technology into the power grid for the first time requires technical and managerial capabilities that the country is proving it possesses. With this distinction, we also highlight the work of the engineering and consulting teams that are making possible a project that marks a turning point for the national energy infrastructure,” stated Hugo Andrade, president of the Association of Engineering Consulting Firms of Chile.

It is worth noting that the AIC 2026 Annual Meeting was attended by the dual minister of Public Works and Transportation, Louis de Grange.