The high voltage direct current transmission line project from Kimal, in the Antofagasta region of Chile, to Lo Aguirre, in the Metropolitan region (the KILO project), has obtained a declaration of national interest (declaración de interés nacional), following an application filed with the Chilean National Forestry Service (Conaf) in March of this year. Carola Venegas, manager of public affairs, environment and community at project consortium Conexión Energía, said that this was an important condition for the project to enter the environmental assessment process, which is due to begin within the year, and that obtaining the declaration would allow deforestation of primary forests during the project’s construction. The majority of local governments along the project’s route have expressed support in the application, as well as an expectation of a public-private partnership, and Venegas said he expects the EIA permit to be obtained by the end of 2025.
