Chile's National Energy Commission (CNE) updated its planning to supply regulated customers and projected 19,300 GWh/year of Base Component to be awarded between 2027 and 2030 , with staggered delivery starts from 2031 to 2035.
The schedule contemplates 5700 GWh/year during 2027 , divided between 4300 GWh/year to begin in 2031 and 1400 GWh/year from 2032. While in 2028 the largest process is planned, for 6700 GWh/year , intended to cover needs from 2033.
These will be supplemented by 5800 GWh/year to be awarded in 2029 , starting in 2034, and another 1100 GWh/year during 2030 , with delivery beginning in 2035. The values correspond exclusively to the Base Component and do not include the eventual Variable Component established by each process.
In parallel, the 2026 Final Tenders Report determines that it will not be necessary to open new short-term calls for tenders between 2026 and 2028 , given that "the available contractual surpluses would be sufficient" to compensate for the projected deficits during that period.
The scenario changes from 2029 onwards. For that year and 2030, the CNE maintains the 2026/01 Supply Tender , currently underway, within its planning , while by 2031 the global surpluses would no longer be enough to cover the estimated needs.
That point marks the transition to a tighter contractual position. From 2032 onwards, a structural net deficit appears in the current contracts of the distribution companies , which necessitates the successive planning of long-term processes.
The plan thus shows a virtually annual sequence of allocations. After the 4,300 GWh/year for 2031 , 1,400 GWh/year will be added for 2032, 6,700 GWh/year for 2033, 5,800 GWh/year for 2034, and 1,100 GWh/year for 2035.
The update also allows comparing the new planning with the final document published in 2025, since, on that occasion, the CNE considered as a reference 5050 GWh/year of Base Component to be awarded in 2027 , with supply from 2031.
Although according to the new CNE document, the need for new contracts is also associated with a clearly upward consumption trajectory, going from 31397 GWh in 2026 to 58854 GWh in 2046 , which represents an increase of 27457 GWh in 20 years , equivalent to about 87% compared to the level planned for 2026.
Tender 2026/01 is the focus of immediate attention
Before the new sequence projected from 2027 begins, the market must resolve the 2026/01 Supply Tender , which contemplates 2835 GWh/year through 15-year contracts.
The process distributes that volume into 1575 GWh/year starting in 2029 and 1260 GWh/year from 2030. These amounts had been previously established and, therefore, do not represent anything new in the latest report.
The call for bids is segmented into three time blocks and four regional zones , subsequently divided into multiple sub-blocks. Zone 1 comprises the north; Zone 2, a large part of the central region, including Enel and Chilquinta customers; Zone 3 covers the south-central region; and Zone 4, the far south.
Zone 2 concentrates the largest amount of energy. It includes 1,000 GWh for Block 1 and 799 GWh for Block 2. Zone 1 is allocated 146 GWh and 117 GWh, respectively.
The current schedule sets December 4, 2026, as the date for the submission and opening of technical and administrative bids. If a second stage is not activated, the financial proposals will be opened on January 5, 2027 , and the public award will take place on January 13 .
With 2029 and 2030 partially covered by that process, the new planning shifts the contractual challenge towards 2031 and, especially, from 2032 onwards , when the surpluses cease to be sufficient and a sequence of requirements begins that will lead to awarding 19,300 GWh/year until 2030.