The initiative already has a substation built in Hualqui.
The future of an initiative considered key in the transmission segment is in doubt. This is the interregional project «Group 3 Zonal Transmission System S/E Itahue-S/E Hualqui» of the company Mataquito Transmisora de Energía SA.-belonging to the Celeo Redes Chile group- which involves 20 communes in the regions of Maule, Ñuble and Biobío, and contemplates a total investment of US$ 324 million.
In the case of the Biobío Region, the project includes the communes of Tome, Penco, Concepción, Hualqui and Chiguayante.
The initiative, as stated by the DF in its edition of this Thursday the 25th, would also allow the transport of energy from 18 new renewable generation projects.
The project carried out by the Spanish Celeois seen as crucial to raising the quality of supply and reliability of the electrical system in these regions and stands as the second largest transmission development in the country in the pipeline, but faces decisive days in its environmental evaluation that began four years ago.
Last Friday the Consolidated Evaluation Report (ICE) about him Environmental Impact Study (EIA) where the rejection of the transmission line was recommended, based on observations aimed at safeguarding the native forest identified in two of the 1,387 towers considered in the 395 kilometer route.
NON-COMPLIANCE
In the 592-page document, the Executive Directorate of the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) recommends rejecting the EIA, based on the fact that “the project does not partially comply with the current environmental regulations contained in section 10 of this report.”
It is added that the owner “did not prove compliance with the requirements for granting environmental nature of the sectoral environmental permits established in articles 132, 138, 140, 146, 148, 149, 151 and 160 of Supreme Decree No. 40 of 2012 (… ), by virtue of persistent observations by the respective competent bodies on the technical and formal contents necessary to grant the aforementioned permits.
Also, it is stated that the owner “did not provide sufficient information to prove that the proposed mitigation, repair and/or compensation measures adequately address the significant impacts of the project on the flora and vegetation components,” and that “they did not “It provided sufficient information to rule out the generation of risk to the health of the population, significant adverse effects on renewable natural resources and alteration of cultural heritage.” But in addition, it is argued that the owner “did not provide sufficient information to rule out the applicability of the sectoral environmental permit established in article 150.”
CONAF: “DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE LEGISLATION”
In detail, the document states that the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) Maintains that ““It is not possible to rule out intervention and alteration of habitat for native preservation forests and for species declared as natural monuments,” given that it believes that the proposal is not scientifically or technically justified.
«The above added to what was indicated in the baseline observations, regarding the intervention of native preservation forests in the towers 75 of the branch that goes from S/E Hualqui to S/E Chiguayanteand tower 86-DH, and habitat alteration for the formation BNP-37, BNP-18 and possibly BN-65, for which this Corporation considers that the project does not comply with environmental legislation and does not present the corresponding sectoral environmental permit,” is stated by the Corporation.
The initiative is part of the Zonal Transmission System Expansion Plan decreed by the Ministry of Energy.
From Chilean Transmitters They assured that the impacts of a possible rejection in this procedure are very worrying, because it is a key line for the national decarbonization strategy, the second largest project after Kimal-Lo Aguirre (which will link Antofagasta and Santiago)from which the connection of more than 3,700 MW of renewable energy would be enabled, improving the security conditions of electricity supply for 20 communes in three regions that today are in very precarious systemic conditions.
«The underlying issue is that there is not an adequate balance between the systemic and environmental benefits that are generated from the implementation of a project of this type, and its possible consequences, to which weight is being assigned. higher in their evaluation even though they may be conditioned to alternative solutions, as is the case in this case,” says the union.
FUNDAMENTAL PROJECT
Meanwhile, the Chilean Association of Renewable Energy and Storage (Pavement), explained that the initiative seeks to improve the quality of the electrical supply for the supply of clean and cheap energy to homes and energy consumers, “since currently, the electrical system of these communes is highly stressed, which “It causes supply interruptions, poor quality of service and the impossibility of adding new users, affecting the development of commerce and industry in general and, therefore, the growth of our economy.”
Acera highlighted that the materialization of the project is essential, both for the integration into the electrical grid of renewable energy and storage projects for a total of 3,700 MW, equivalent to 11% of the installed energy generation capacity in Chile, valued at US$ 4,000 million of investment, for the creation of more than 10,000 jobs, associated with their construction.
«We are certain that there are institutional mechanisms in force for compliance with the environmental standards required for transmission projects, or any other, which must be applied timely and efficiently. For this reason, we hope that after a long process, all efforts will be made to approve this project, incorporating the conditions that are necessary for its correct execution, and thus not go backwards or bog down access to cheaper electricity rates and to the sustainable development of Chile.
Following the publication on April 19 of the ICE, the SEA has a minimum of five business days to resolve and a maximum of May 14. Being an interregional project, it is resolved by the SEA management. If the initiative is rejected, there remains the possibility of a claim before the Committee of Ministers.
SOURCE: DF
The entry They recommend rejecting the electrical transmission project that extends from Tomé to Hualqui was first published in Trade-news.
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