A little over a year after the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) of the Kimal-Lo Aguirre megaline, which will link Antofagasta and Santiago and involves an investment of some US$ 1.5 billion, was submitted, on November 22, the company Conexión Kimal-Lo Aguirre submitted the first addendum, which responds to the observations of the Consolidated Report of Clarifications, Rectifications or Extensions (Icsara) presented by the State agencies participating in the process, as well as to the observations collected in the citizen participation.
For the manager of Sustainability and Public Affairs of Conexión Kimal-Lo Aguirre, Carola Venegas, this step “constitutes a great milestone. “The authority will have the opportunity to see that the project made an effort to reduce its intervention.
We were very flexible regarding the evaluation of the impacts. That is, there are elements that this project has to face and that were not part of the history of the environmental evaluation, she assured. This is what climate change refers to.
“I think that, in general, the project never had opposition. In fact, the closest thing we saw was ‘I would like it to have adjustments.’”
He emphasized that they do not underestimate any observation from the community: “We gain
nothing from being a carbon neutral country, which preserves its biodiversity, if this is generated
in the context of social conflicts.”
“Today we have a very high level of project strength, we have almost all our Capex assigned with contracts (.) We feel that we have a well-defined project, with a high level of detail” he stressed.
The addendum included additional information and adjustments. In light of the alert that Conaf raised at the time, Venegas admitted that they are very clear that, due to the characteristics of the work, the most key observations of the project have to do with this entity. And he emphasized that, for example, they avoided the affectation of 222 archaeological monuments, that is, 40% less than what they presented in the ElA.
On whether the adjustment to the route, which involves a slight change to 1,346 kilometers in the length of the transmission line, responded to the opposition that arose in the Elqui Valley, he said: “I don’t like to talk about opposition, because I think that in general the project never had opposition. In fact, the closest thing we saw was ‘I would like the project to have adjustments, but in no case rejection of the project. And that is very relevant.”
Regarding eventual agreements signed with communities that had criticized the original route, he said that this is difficult to have as an agreement. But he acknowledged that, even having made all the efforts, ‘I don’t know if we are necessarily going to find 100% approval or conformity with the project.”
On whether the adjustments to the route that are now proposed make the work viable, he said: “We went through an electoral process and the project was not in the discussion in 35 communes, in the five regions. That is a sign.” The above, considering 28 communes of the route, plus the seven for transporting oversized cargo.
Venegas stated that the project is progressing according to its schedule in all its dimensions. They would like to begin construction no later than the first quarter of 2026. “We have no precedents in sight today that would account for the need to postpone the start of operations,” scheduled for 2029.
Of the 11 compliance milestones established in the bidding base, the relevant milestone 2 has already been met and the 1st would be sealed in February 2025. After the entry of the first addendum, which they see as a new opportunity to have observations, they are already working towards the second. And even with the possibility of an extraordinary addendum, they estimated it possible to obtain the Environmental Qualification Resolution within the deadlines.
On November 27, the SEA issued the resolution that begins a new stage of citizen participation in the communes where the project presents modifications or adjusts the significant impacts, which should extend until the beginning of January. Meanwhile, in parallel, the indigenous consultation continues. Considering that the company declared new significant impacts with indigenous communities, it is expected that new communities will join.
Among other activities, two of the five necessary applications for electrical concessions have already been accepted for processing. He specified that 55% of the land where the structures are located are public land. And, of the remainder, 17% already have a contract or a signed agreement and 24% are still under negotiation.
How difficult has this negotiation with the owners been?: “It is a process that, although it could be controversial, we have not seen it constitute a focus of attention today. Of course this can change and sometimes there are negotiation strategies, etc., but being already in the 30th month of development of the project since the award decree, it is a good evaluation to be able to prospect what may come.
Have you faced speculation or complex negotiations?: “No, not at all. It is easy to identify that beyond what I can say, because when these speculative spaces are generated, in the end a lot of instruments are used and it is not what we have seen, nor is it what is visible to all citizens. For us, maintaining the costs of the project is an ethical issue. Basically because this is a project that will go to the electricity bill. We are serious when it comes to negotiating, establishing measures.”
Are the opposition or criticisms that may arise a concern?: “We will always be available for dialogue and to generate these processes of addressing observations and explaining the reasons for our decisions, which does not necessarily imply 100% approval. (…) We will continue to dialogue because this project has to be carried out within a framework of social acceptance.”
