en.Wedoany.com Reported - Chilean President José Antonio Kast presided over the inauguration ceremony of the Tocopilla Energy Complex (located in Tocopilla) by Engie Chile, a project with a $270 million investment that transforms a former coal-fired power generation site into an integrated clean energy infrastructure platform. The event was attended by Chile's Minister of Energy, Ximena Rincón, Minister of National Assets, Catalina Parot, along with several other government officials and corporate representatives.
The complex integrates three technologies to enhance the stability and security of Chile's National Electric System: the BESS Tocopilla energy storage system, a synchronous condenser (Condensador Síncrono), and the Natural Gas Combined Cycle Unit 16 (Unidad 16 de ciclo combinado a gas natural), which is considered one of the most efficient power plants in the Chilean grid. The BESS Tocopilla system has an installed capacity of 116 MW and an energy storage capacity of 660 MWh, equipped with 240 lithium-ion battery containers. It can store renewable energy during high generation periods and reinject it into the grid when needed, contributing approximately 211 GWh of electricity annually, enough to meet the demand of about 89,900 households, while avoiding over 51,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year. The synchronous condenser installed at the complex is the first of its kind in Chile and globally within the Engie Group (Grupo Engie), providing critical grid stability services such as inertia, dynamic voltage control, reactive power, and emergency support, helping to reduce the need for thermal power plants operating for security reasons.
During the event, Kast highlighted the project's contribution to economic development, energy security, and sustainability, noting that this transformation demonstrates the ability to create opportunities for communities and workers while advancing a cleaner energy mix. The project created approximately 700 jobs during its construction phase and will retain around 100 permanent positions, solidifying Tocopilla's role as a strategic hub for energy development and power grid reinforcement in northern Chile.
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