The National Electric Coordinator issued an international public tender for the award of the rights to build and operate two new substations of urgent nature, in accordance with Exempt Decree No. 10/2026 of the Ministry of Energy.
The works correspond to the Punilla and Quinchamalí substations, located in the Ñuble region, with a total reference investment of 28.6 million dollars and an estimated construction period of 48 months.
The process includes site visits between April 13 and 17, a consultation period until May 4, receipt of offers until June 24 (4:00 PM), technical opening on June 25 and economic opening on July 17, 2026.
In addition, the guidelines incorporate adjustments aimed at strengthening competition, simplifying the process, and reducing the administrative and financial burden of projects .
The document and its updates will be available on the National Electric Coordinator's website. These are the first new projects tendered under the urgent works mechanism, incorporating improvements aimed at streamlining the bidding processes and subsequent construction, in line with the National Electric Coordinator's commitment to the timely development of electrical infrastructure.
The Punilla substation, in the commune of San Carlos, and Quinchamalí, in Chillán, represent a total reference investment of US$28.6 million and will strengthen and improve the safety, continuity and capacity of the electrical system, fundamental aspects for regional productive development.
Furthermore, the works emerged from the Special Plan Ñuble, a strategy that arose from a coordinated effort between the regional public and private sectors, to unlock productive projects and boost the region's growth.
"We celebrate the tendering of the transmission works associated with the Punilla and Quinchamalí substations, which will strengthen the transmission system of the towns.
"This is paramount, since, indeed, a strengthening of the quality and continuity of service is required for all our inhabitants of the region," said the Undersecretary of Energy, Hugo Briones.