The “Early Citizen Participation of the Desalination Project” was held in the Plaza de Armas of Coquimbo, where the community was able to learn the details and scope of this initiative that will benefit more than 460,000 inhabitants of the communes of La Serena and Coquimbo. This initiative, which will operate under the reverse osmosis system to treat seawater, will be located in the El Panul sector, in Coquimbo, and will have a production capacity of 1,200 liters per second. In addition, this project will have a cost of 260 million dollars and a useful life of 54 years.
In this regard, it should be remembered that, although Aguas del Valle is carrying out the project studies, it will be the Concessions Directorate of the MOP that will take this initiative and put it out to tender, a process in which, moreover, the companies that can participate can participate. meet the requirements established in the bases. In that sense, the manager of the regional water utility, Andrés Nazer, assures that this project is technically very similar to the one they had presented a few years ago, but now it has much more complete studies in some areas that were reviewed. “With previous experience, there are now much more complete and updated studies. It was a presentation that was made two years ago and information had to be updated. We are with a project that has a totally different robustness, for example, in archaeological, flora and fauna issues. With these presentations we can collect some other doubts that arise,” said Nazer.
DESALINATION PLANT DEADLINES
Asked about the project deadlines, Nazer confirmed that the tender for the plant will be carried out during the second half of the year. Now, regarding the start of its operation planned for 2028 by President Gabriel Boric – which differs from that stipulated in the health company’s studies, which points to the second half of 2029 – Nazer pointed out that these are scheduled dates, the ideal being for the desalination plant to begin operating that year. In this sense, the head of the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) in the Coquimbo Region, Javier Sandoval, indicated that the desalination plant must be carried out in the most limited processes possible, but respecting the institutionality of the environmental analysis. “Our president instructed us to do it as quickly as possible. He spoke of the year 2028 and all the efforts of institutions, both public and private, are committed to reaching that great goal. However, it has many variables,” Sandoval warned.
APPLICATION FOR TENDER
Regarding the possibility of Aguas del Valle participating in the tender, the MOP regional minister indicated that this possibility has not yet been defined, but it is an option. “I cannot say what the company will do; whether they will participate or not. But we want any company that participates in this tender to be of the highest possible standard, with the experience of both our country and other countries, to provide security to our community. That is why as the Ministry of Public Works, through our General Directorate of Concessions, we will accompany the entire process,” said the authority.
In relation to this point, Nazer indicated that, as a company, however, they will not participate in the bidding for the work. “Our line is going to be a user of this infrastructure that will be managed by the MOP, through its Concessions Directorate. But we will be users of the water production that this plant has,” said Nazer. It should be noted that the “Early Citizen Participation of the Desalination Project” stage will continue to be developed in sectors such as Totoralillo, Tongoy, Guanaqueros and El Panul during the next few days.
