National Energy Grid
Chile
GRID SUMMARY
The Republic of Chile is located in southern South
America, stretching along the west coast of the
southern half of the continent. Chile shares a
3,200-mile border to the east with Argentina and
also borders Bolivia to the northeast and Peru
to the north. Chile is roughly twice the size of
Montana, and its population was estimated at 15.3
million in 2000, with a growth rate of 1.4%. Chile's
energy sector is largely privatized, particularly
the electricity industry. Chilean energy demand
has been growing rapidly (averaging more than 7%
annually) since 1992. A significant portion of
this growth has come from increased power demand
by the mining sector, the country's single largest
industry, and by large urban areas such as Santiago,
which alone contains almost 40% of Chile's population.
The increased demand combined with scant fossil
fuel resources make Chile a net importer of energy.
Power generation in Chile is organized around
four grid systems: 1) Sistema Interconectado del
Norte Grande (SING), the northern grid, which accounts
for about 19% of national generation; 2) the Central
Interconnected System (SIC), the central region's
grid, which accounts for 68.5% of national generation
and serves 93% of Chile's population; 3) the Aysén
Grid in southern Chile (0.3% of total generation);
and 4) the Magallanes Grid, also in southern Chile
(0.8% of total generation). Electricity transmission
and distribution takes place through the four grids,
as well as 36 electricity distribution companies.
Endesa-Chile, either directly or through its subsidiaries
(Pehuenche SA, Pangue SA, and San Isidro SA), is
the principal supplier to the SIC grid, accounting
for 57% of the installed capacity and about 49%
of electricity sold in 2001. On the other hand,
SING is dominated by independent producers, though
Endesa-Chile, through its subsidiary Celta SA,
still accounts for about 20% of the installed generating
capacity connected to that grid.
A diagram of Chile's SIC electricity grid is shown
on the left.
Country Overview
National
Energy Grid Index
Map
of Chilean Electricity Grid | National Energy Grid Index
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