The Chilean parastatal Coordinador Elétrico Nacional (CEN), which coordinates the national electricity system, has published the schedule for the international tender of Kimal-Lo Aguirre HVDC project. The project includes the development of a 1,500-kilometer bipolar direct-current transmission line, connecting the north and center of the Chilean Electricity Grid. It will run in parallel to the alternating current (HVAC) 500 kV Kimal-Cardones-Polpaico line.
The tender process will start on 26 October 2020, with the enrolment of in the registry of interested entities, that will have access to a preliminary version of the administrative terms and conditions, as well as a preliminary version of the general technical specifications and HVDC functional technical specifications. Chile expects to start registration of participants and publish definitive tender terms and conditions on 1 February 2021 and to award the project in late October 2021.