Chile has received 70 offers for 20 geothermal exploration concessions, an increase from the last round.
Some 13 companies presented project proposals in Santiago today. In the last round of exploration concession bidding, which was also for 20 areas, 59 offers were made by nine companies.
“We are pleasantly surprised by the great response we have received,” says minister of energy Ricardo Raineri. “This shows that the development of geothermal power has a very positive future.”
The areas offered in this round are located in areas that are not considered to be deserted—a consideration which turned off some developers in the previous round.
Those companies submitting bids today were: Colbún SA; Compañía Minera Zaldívar; ECM Ingeniería SA; Enel Latin América Chile; Energía Andina SA; Energy Development EDC; GGE Chile SpA; Magma Energy Chile Ltda; Minera Escondida Ltda; Origin Energy Chile SpA; Ormat Andina Energía Ltda; POCH y Asociados Ingeniero Consultores SA; Transmark Chile spa.