SoWiTec Chile Projects Argentina Projects Brazil Projects Mexico Projects Peru Projects Uruguay back to Latin America Map	Chile's gross domestic product grew at an average 5% over the past five years. The country provides economic as well as political stability due to sustained prosperity. Alike other industrial sectors, mining companies continue to expand their production capacity. Chile's mining sector delivers 30% of the global market copper availability. Electricity is crucial in mining and the sector is struggling to find supply solutions. Initially dominated by hydropower, a massive drought in 1999 crushed the electricity supply. An abundance of natural gas supplied from Argentina during the 90's, geared the sector towards gas fuelled power plants. When Argentina cut the natural gas supply in 2004, Chile fell into a second energy crisis from which it is still recovering. According to recent data, Chile is producing 47,6 TWh of electricity per year with an installed capacity of 13,000 MW, while the country consumes some 48.5 TWh annually. So far, shortcomings have been filled through imports, an energy crisis seems imminent though. To supply the growing demand, an addition of 800 MW/ yr. is required. In wind power terms (40% efficiency), this represents a potential market of 2,000 MW to be added annually. In Chile's privatized power market, many industrial firms have secured their power supply by acquiring own power plants, mainly thermal or small hydro plants. SoWiTec de Chile is in negotiations with the industry seeking to develop an autonomous electricity supply system, resilient to price and supply fluctuations. To encourage the diversification of the energy sector, the government has passed a law requiring 5% of all generated electricity to be sourced from renewable sources such as wind power by 2010. SoWiTec de Chile is investigating business opportunities with power generators seeking to fulfill their 5% renewable energy quota. This quota marks the first step towards a strong renewable energy framework in Chile.
	SoWiTec Energias Renovables de Chile is developing a pipeline of 4,000 MW, exclusively selecting sites with good wind resources, industrial activity and strong grid capacity. The most industrialised regions are the I, II, III and IV region. Screening is focused upon the dark shaded areas. By next year, SoWiTec Energias Renovables de Chile will commence project development in the regionsVII-X.