Antofagasta's Environmental Assessment Commission (Coeva) unanimously approved Cramsa's Aguas Marítimas project, valued at US$ 5.000 million. The desalination plant will supply water to communes in the region to address water scarcity. The approval followed over four years of evaluation.
On Monday, Antofagasta's Coeva approved the Aguas Marítimas project, the largest by the Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental (SEA) since 2018, surpassed only by Teck's Quebrada Blanca that year.
The Environmental Impact Study (EIA) was submitted in March 2022, spanning over four years. The plant, with 700,000 m³ daily capacity, will draw seawater from Caleta Bolfin, 15 km from Antofagasta, featuring 480 km of pipelines, 17 pumping stations, and 350 km of power lines. It will supply water to Antofagasta, Sierra Gorda, and Calama.
Cramsa plans construction start in the first half of 2027, operations from early 2029, and completion by mid-2032, peaking at 8,550 daily workers. It will operate for 70 years until 2099 with 200 daily workers, enabling desalinated industrial water supply to nearby mining and industries.
Recognized as the largest by the Asociación Chilena de Desalación y Reúso A.G. and Corporación de Bienes de Capital (CBC), Coeva also approved three other projects totaling US$ 341 million that day, including Antuko's Sistema de Almacenamiento de Energía Águila Mora for US$ 336 million.
