Chile's CO2 emissions are expected to quadruple by 2030 failing change to its national energy policy, the Chilean Minister for Energy, Marcelo Tokman, warned last week.

The estimated increase is largely credited to the sharp rise in coal-fired power stations in a report, New Guidelines for Energy Policy, presented to President Bachelet by the Minister for Energy last Tuesday.

"The growth of coal-based thermal plants may involve an increase in the countries annual emission, from 70 million tons, at present, to around 300 million tons by 2030, causing per capita output to register higher than European and other developed countries," the report said.

Based on these projections, Chile's per capita emissions would increase to 17.6 tons by 2030, from the current level of 3.7 tons. This increase would see Chilean per capita emissions overtake those of European countries, like Germany (currently 9.8 tons) that already have reduction strategies.

The National Energy Commission (NEC) has so far refrained from commenting on the report, but is said to have recently commissioned a study form Poch Ambiental to detail projected CO2 emissions based on current energy policy.

These estimates are especially worrying ahead of the 2009 Copenhagen Climate conference, scheduled for December, when the international community will seek to define an agreement to replace the Kyoto protocol.

"Chile must assume the risk of being subjected to restrictions or costs associated with international measures taken to tackle global warming," the report warns.

The accumulated output of proposed coal-fired projects, approved or pending approval from the National Environmental Commission, would amount to 7,200 MW, equal to 55 percent of national capacity.

This is a staggering figure, since coal-fired plants currently only account for 15 percent of Chile's national energy capacity.

Coal-fired plants are becoming increasingly popular in the face of unreliable Argentine gas exports and the uncertainty in Hydro-electric output due to drought. This is especially true for industry, forced to bid for its power on the short market when supply is low.

Still, former NEC executive secretary Vivianne Blanlot believes coal is not the only way for Chile to sure up its energy requirements. "The environmental damage involved in this scenario is totally avoidable, but we need to seriously consider other options. There is a lot of interest at the moment in coal alternatives and in new technologies (related to wind and solar power), not only in the environmental world, but among energy experts."

Still, even though renewal energy options exist, they are not encourage by current government policy. A report released at the end of last year by conservative economic think-tank, Freedom and Development, revealed that approval for coal based projects are processed up-to 34% quicker than those focused on other sources of energy.

SOURCE: EL MERCURIO

By Oliver Perkins ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )