Redinter anticipates a significant expansion of Chile"s electricity transmission market over the next five years, fueled by the country"s decarbonization targets, recent regulatory modernization and rising demand for resilient grid infrastructure in strategic regions.
"We expect an increase in tender volumes and a greater diversity of project types, combining large structural works with fast-execution upgrades," said David López, Country Manager at Redinter Chile, in an interview with Strategic Energy.
This outlook is supported by the National Energy Policy, which sets ambitious carbon-neutrality and supply-security targets, as well as by the entry into force of major sector reforms.
Key among them are the Energy Transition Law and the Framework Law for Sectoral Permits, both designed to shorten timelines and provide greater legal certainty for investors.
"The first one corrects historic delays in transmission development by strengthening infrastructure resilience and enabling decarbonization.
The second modernizes and streamlines sectoral permitting, aiming to reduce processing times by 70% through standardized procedures," López explained.
Together, these reforms are intended to accelerate project execution, enhance predictability and strengthen Chile"s national grid positioning the country as a more competitive energy market in Latin America.
Planning efforts are already translating into actionable projects.
A recent national and international tender launched by Redinter seeks the construction of a 1x220 kV line reactor on the Nueva Pozo Almonte Roncacho route, located at the Nueva Pozo Almonte Substation.
Published in September 2025, the tender falls under Decree 266/2024 and Resolution 98/2025, pursuant to Law 21.721, which amended Chile"s General Law of Electric Services.
These regulations allow the asset owner to directly issue the tender.
The project aims to strengthen voltage control in northern Chile and support renewable energy integration, with:
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Reference investment: USD 4,742,657
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Construction period: 42 months
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Expected operation: 2030
SThe process is moving according to schedule.
We expect participation from both domestic and international bidders, fostering competition based on price and technical quality," López confirmed.
Site visits are now underway, following the sale of tender documents that closed on November 3.
Despite the positive outlook, Redinter warns of challenges affecting competition, including a decline in the number of bidders.
This is largely due to reference prices misaligned with current economic conditions, which has led to several tenders being declared void or awarded at significantly higher-than-expected prices.
"It is essential to maintain transparent rules and strengthen institutions to provide investor confidence," López emphasized.
He also stressed the need to advance complementary reforms, such as the modernization of the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA) and the National Monuments Council, to better balance development with socio-cultural considerations.
Planning also plays a critical role.
Redinter argues that the long-term energy plan must translate into an actionable medium-term transmission plan, allowing both public and private stakeholders to align their investment roadmaps.
With expectations of greater dynamism in the transmission sector, the company is already adopting digital tools, conducting market analysis, and reinforcing its focus on safety and community engagement.
Within this context, Redinter is prioritizing solutions aligned with the future needs of Chile"s power sector integrating ESG principles, competitiveness and long-term sustainability.
Although the new laws will not directly increase the project pipeline, they are expected to unlock initiatives delayed by regulatory bottlenecks.
"These reforms will help materialize many projects that have been stalled due to obstacles now mitigated by the new legal framework," López concluded.