Chile Energy Laws

Chile Energy Lawschile

Energy sourcesoilChile's state-owned oil company, Empresa Nacional de Petroleo (ENAP), is the main energy supplier, filling more than 40% of Chile's national energy demand. Chilean crude oil reserves in 2000 were estimated at between 100million and 200million barrels. Chile's oil demand has nearly doubled over the past decade, while crude oil production has declined by half, leading Chile to increase its imports of oil dramatically. Presently, Chile's main sources of imported oil are Nigeria, Gabon, and Venezuela, but other sources are possible.Natural gasChile produces only a relatively small amount of natural gas.New electricity generating capacity is beginning to come online that utilizes natural gas as fuel. Also, many industries in Chile now have access to natural gas, and there is a program to connect residential users in the larger cities to the gas transmission system as well. All this has resulted in Chile becoming a natural gas importer.Argentina currently is Chile's exclusive source of gas imports.coalCoal production in Chile is mostly handled by Empresa Nacional del Carbn (ENACAR), which was privatized in 1985. Coal production has greatly declined over the past decade; the country's largest coal mine was closed in 1997. Much of the coal that is consumed in Chile is now imported, mostly from Australia.Coal in Chile is primarily consumed in the electricity generating sector (72%) and for inputs to coke ovens in the steel sector (14%). The remainder is burned directly by industry, with the cement, food products and iron and steel sectors being the largest consumers.Hydro electricHydroelectric power plants presently represent about 40% of the installed generating capacity of Chile, and, in 2000, provided about half of Chile's electricity. The amount of electricity generation from year to year has been extremely variable due to climate conditions in the country.electricityOver the past decade, Chile has privatized 100% of its electricity industry and unbundled the national generation, transmission, and distribution systems.

Electricity TransmissionPower 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 Aysn Grid in southern Chile (0.3% of total generation); and 4) the Magallanes Grid, also in southern Chile (0.8% of total generation).Energy sources

Total installed electricity capacity (2010): 15.94 GWThermo-electricity: 64,9%Hydro-electricity: 34%Other renewables: 1-4%Renewable energyRenewable energy is currently mostly used for rural electrification or other small-scale power generation. Chile has nevertheless huge solar, wind and geothermal potential.

Solar energyThe Atacama Desert gets up to 9.28 kilowatt-hours of sun daily per square meter, among the worlds highest.

Wind energyWind power has been used mostly for rural electrification purposes. It is estimated that 25 GW could be generated from wind energy. But wind energy's largest potential is in the South of Chile, in the remote area of Patagonia: the distance to the central SIC energy grid makes a large wind farm in Patagonia unprofitable as local demand is still low. In other parts of Chile, several large scale wind parks are under construction.

Renewable energyGeothermal energyChile also has 10% of the worlds active volcanoes, highlighting an abundant potential for geothermal Energy with the potential to generate 16 GW. Since 2000, special legislation and subsidies promote the development of geothermal energy, which has been officially designated the countrys strategic priority.

Biomass energyBiomass accounts for around half of Chiles installed renewable energy production. Power generated from biomass projects in Chile are currently added directly to the grid, mainly through electrical co-generation plants that use industrial waste from the pulp and paper industry. Biomass is commonly used for cooking.ImportsrelianceChiles dependence on imported energy had been increasing for the last 30 years. In 1980, approximately 58% of energy was supplied by indigenous production and 42% from net imports. However in 2005, this proportion has reversed, with 71% from imports and the remainder from indigenous production.marketPOWER SYSTEM: OWNERSHIPElectricity marketChile was the first country in the world to implement a comprehensive reform of its electricity sector in 1982.

The electricity industry is now fully privatized.

Privatisation included open access to the wholesale electricity market. But although the wholesale market is theoretically open, it is relatively small and large companies constitute a virtual monopoly.Viva chile mierda!16SourcessourcesReegle. Energy Profile Chile. http://www.reegle.info/countries/chile-energy-profile/CL#energy_efficiencyFossil Energy International. An Energy Overview of Chile. http://www.geni.org/globalenergy/library/national_energy_grid/chile/EnergyOverviewofChile.shtmlU.S. Energy Information Administration. Chile. http://www.eia.gov/countries/country-data.cfm?fips=ci