AGP Executive Report

Energy Storage in Chile: AES Andes has started testing the 340 MW / 1,360 MWh Cristales battery energy storage system in Antofagasta, with commissioning of the linked solar plant expected soon. Critical Minerals & Copper Markets: Analysts say copper prices may need to rise further to close a supply gap driven by falling grades and underinvestment, even as the metal hits record highs. Mining Finance Watch: Antofagasta cut its 2026 copper production outlook even as H1 profits surged, a move that weighed on shares. Crypto & Regulation: Chilean exchange Orionx has begun a permanent shutdown after a forensic audit found a custody shortfall of more than $7 million, freezing withdrawals and triggering criminal complaints. Regional Supply Chains: A South American lithium alliance—Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru—has formed to position the region as a reliable supplier for the energy transition amid US-China rivalry. Food & Health Policy: In India, activists filed a Supreme Court objection to proposed red food warning labels, arguing the rules create an “industry-friendly loophole.”

Crypto & Regulation: Chilean exchange Orionx has begun a permanent shutdown after a forensic audit found a custody shortfall of $7M+ from customer assets moved to unauthorized external wallets; withdrawals are frozen, and the firm says it’s pursuing restitution while filing criminal complaints against co-founders Joaquín Díaz and Roberto Zibert, who deny wrongdoing—months after Chile’s regulator rejected Orionx’s authorization bid. Copper Market Signals: Antofagasta trimmed its 2026 copper production forecast even as H1 profits surged, underlining how investors are reacting to supply risk and downstream economics. Copper Chain Pressure: New data points to mine output falling while smelter treatment charges collapse toward zero, widening the squeeze between concentrate supply and processing capacity. Energy & Hydrogen Logistics: Chile’s H2V-TRANSDRIVE program showcased a locally built hybrid fuel-cell truck targeting 600 km range and 2,000 kg payload for pilots supporting the hydrogen rollout. Critical Minerals Policy: A supply-chain review warns the real bottleneck is midstream processing and refining capacity, concentrated in a few countries, leaving manufacturers exposed to controls and volatility.

Critical Minerals & Supply Chains: A new report warns the bottleneck is shifting downstream: refining, conversion and separation capacity are concentrated, leaving manufacturers exposed to export controls, licensing delays and price swings even when ore exists. Food Safety & Exports: Walmart expanded a frozen-berry recall tied to an E. coli outbreak to Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend sold in 16 U.S. states; the Chilean supplier Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. is at the center of the traceback. Mining & Infrastructure: Sacyr Concesiones won Chile’s Route 57 Santiago-Colina-Los Andes concession, covering 110 km with an ~€800m construction budget and works including lane expansions and new tunnel upgrades. Port & Logistics Skills: DP World became the first Chile port terminal to earn the Explora Logística Seal for structured student visits at San Antonio, linking cargo operations with workforce development. Energy Storage: AES Andes is testing a 340 MW / 1,360 MWh battery energy storage system in Chile. Aquaculture Innovation: A Chile-linked penguin rehab effort uses copper-and-zinc therapeutic suits to speed recovery and reduce stress during dressing changes.

Seismic Forecasting Breakthrough: UC Riverside researchers say they can pinpoint where major earthquakes are most likely to rupture by tracking slow tectonic strain buildup, tested on last year’s Kamchatka quake. Chile Infrastructure: Sacyr won the concession for Chile’s Route 57 Santiago–Colina–Los Andes (110+ km), with a near €800m construction budget and major upgrades including new and rehabilitated tunnels. Energy Storage Deal: Grenergy completed the $475m sale of its Gabriela solar-plus-storage phase in Chile to CVC DIF (272 MW solar, 1,100 MWh), with Grenergy staying on for operations and maintenance. Port & Skills: DP World became the first Chile port terminal operator to receive the Explora Logística Seal for structured student visits at San Antonio. Food Supply Chain Risk: Walmart expanded a frozen-berry recall tied to a Chilean supplier linked to an E. coli outbreak; households are urged to check specific lot codes. Critical Minerals Trade Talks: India and Chile are nearing CEPA talks, balancing Chile’s critical-mineral access push with India’s need to protect agriculture. Mining & Exploration Focus: A new industry analysis highlights that downstream processing capacity is the real bottleneck for critical minerals, not just mine supply.

Infrastructure & Transport: Sacyr Concesiones won the Second Concession Route 57 Santiago–Colina–Los Andes, a 110+ km road upgrade with an ~€800m construction budget, including third-lane expansions, a new Chacabuco Tunnel, tunnel rehab, new bike/pedestrian works, and electronic tolling, pending Chile’s Ministry of Public Works procedures. Energy Storage & Renewables: Grenergy completed the $475m sale of Gabriela (272 MW solar + 1,100 MWh storage) to CVC DIF, with a 15-year hybrid PPA and O&M support for five years; the platform totals 14.1 GWh in Chile. Port & Logistics Education: DP World became the first Chile port terminal to receive the Explora Logística Seal for structured student visits at San Antonio, aimed at building logistics talent and skills. Food Safety (Chile-linked supply chain): Walmart expanded a frozen-berry recall tied to a Chilean supplier, with Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend (10 oz) pulled in 16 states after an E. coli outbreak linked to Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. Water Innovation: In drought-hit Coquimbo, fog-catchment nets (camanchaca) can collect up to 650,000 liters/year for agriculture and restoration. Aviation Capacity: Chile is pushing longer regional airport hours—La Araucanía now runs 24/7—targeting ~1m extra seats annually without new airports.

Chile-India Trade Talks: India is pushing to wrap up its CEPA negotiations with Chile by October 2026, but the sticking point remains market access versus India’s need for more secure critical minerals supply. Tax & Investment Climate: Chile’s new tax stability regime lets qualifying foreign investors sign contracts with the state to lock in tax burdens for set periods, though key details will land in future regulations. Food Safety & Retail: An E. coli outbreak tied to frozen Chilean blueberries has expanded—Walmart’s Great Value frozen organic triple berry blend is now recalled across 16 states as total cases reach 17. Water Innovation: In drought-hit Coquimbo, a community uses fog-catching nets to harvest up to 650,000 litres of water a year, supporting agriculture and restoration. Aviation Capacity Push: Chile’s aviation sector wants to add over 1 million seats annually by extending hours at existing regional airports, including 24-hour operations at La Araucanía. Mining Tech: Normet opened a technology center in Pirkkala, Finland, to accelerate autonomy, robotics and software for underground mining. Copper Watch: Copper prices hold gains as Chile output fell 9.4% in July due to severe weather and disruptions.

Energy Storage in Chile: AES Andes has started testing its Cristales BESS in Antofagasta, a 340 MW system with 1,360 MWh capacity, with performance, controls and safety checks under way before commissioning the linked solar plant. Copper Trade Watch: US July refined copper and alloys imports hit a record high, with about 46% coming from Chile, as traders position ahead of potential US tariff moves. Renewables & Storage Pipeline: Engie and Grenergy also keep expanding Chile’s battery-storage footprint, with new projects and operational milestones adding to the country’s growing grid-scale storage buildout. Food Safety Spillover: A Chile-based producer, Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., expanded a frozen berries recall in the US after an E. coli O145:H28 outbreak linked to its organic blueberries; the recall now includes Walmart’s Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend in 16 states. Trade Diplomacy: India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal said India-US BTA details will be finalized only after the US offers a preferential tariff advantage versus competitors, while India and Chile push CEPA talks toward a year-end conclusion.

Chile–U.S. Defense Tech: USAWHC and the Chilean Army held a geospatial engineering workshop at the Instituto Geográfico Militar in Santiago, aiming to boost tactical mapping capacity and interoperability. Energy Storage in Chile: Engie started up its 251MW BESS projects in Chile, while Grenergy completed the fourth phase of its Atacama solar-plus-storage complex—another step for renewables with firming power. Mining & Metals Watch: Chile’s copper output fell 9.4% in July due to severe weather, adding pressure to an already tight supply outlook. Biodiversity & Tourism: Atacama and Coquimbo islands are rebounding after rats and rabbits were eradicated, with nature tourism picking up as ecosystems recover. Food Safety: An E. coli recall tied to frozen blueberries expanded to include a Great Value organic triple berry blend sold at Walmart. Logistics Deal: DHL Global Forwarding acquired Uruguay’s Aero Cargas, giving it a direct Uruguay presence and strengthening its Southern Cone network. Astronomy in Chile: The MOONS spectrograph achieved first light at ESO’s VLT in Paranal, starting a new survey of millions of stars and galaxies.

Chile Industry & Mining: Freehill Mining says severe weather disrupted transport to its Chilean aggregates sites, but August demand rebounded strongly after access to Islon and Yerbas Buenas was restored, while the company also pushes ahead with a copper-gold expansion plan. Copper Market Watch: Capstone Copper shares slid as costs ran above guidance and a labour stoppage plus softer ore grades added pressure, amid a broader materials-sector retreat. Lithium Milestone: Galan Lithium reports first processed lithium chloride from its Hombre Muerto West brine project in Argentina, moving from wet plant commissioning into optimisation. Energy & Industry Tech: PwC projects AI infrastructure investment could reach $31.6T by 2050, with Chile highlighted as a sustainability-anchored data-center play tied to renewable power. Trade & Policy: India is pursuing new free trade agreements with partners including Chile, aiming to improve access to about 75% of world trade. Chile Science & Education: IESED-Chile and ISFODOSU ran an academic scientific writing workshop to raise research standards and policy-ready outputs.

Chile Energy & Renewables: CVC DIF has completed its acquisition of the Gabriela hybrid PV-BESS project in Northern Chile from Grenergy, bringing 272 MW of solar and 1,100 MWh of storage into operation under a 15-year USD inflation-indexed hybrid PPA—aimed at boosting grid flexibility and resilience. Chile Logistics: DHL Global Forwarding bought Uruguay-based Aero Cargas, giving it direct operations in Uruguay and integrating the team and services into its Peru-Ecuador-Argentina-Chile cluster, expanding air/ocean freight, project logistics, pharma logistics and inventory management. Chile Mining & Markets: Chile’s copper output fell 9.4% in July amid severe weather, while copper prices slipped toward $6.4/lb as higher oil and bond yields raised rate and demand concerns. Food Industry Watch: India’s proposed front-of-pack warning labels face pushback from both health experts (two-nutrient threshold may miss products) and food companies (thresholds and serving-size rules could over-label). Regional Supply Chain Tech: AllRead and TIP Latam will deploy OCR-based port access control across Venezuela and the wider Caribbean, automating data capture for container numbers and dangerous goods detection.

Copper Watch: Copper futures pushed above $6.6/lb as Chile’s July output fell 9.4% year-on-year, with disruptions also flagged in Indonesia and the DRC, tightening global supply. Mining Leadership: Reuters reports BHP’s chief commercial officer Rag Udd will step down at end-January, a key role tied to iron ore negotiations with China. Chile Energy Storage: Enel secured a grid connection for a 356 MW/2.1 GWh BESS project in Chile, adding to the country’s fast-growing storage pipeline. Lithium Supply Chain: LG Energy Solution signed a binding 10-year take-or-pay deal for 80,000 tons/year of battery-grade lithium carbonate from Smackover, reinforcing North American LFP supply plans that still rely on Chile/Argentina mining upstream. Trade & Logistics: Punta Arenas is hosting a late-September “Business Showroom” to link Falklands and Magallanes firms, including construction and produce, to support a second shipping link. Business & Telecom: Digicel named Salvador “Salva” Hierrezuelo as group chief business officer, bringing Telefónica Chile B2B experience into its growth push. Food & Compliance: A class-action lawsuit and pesticide/PFAS allegations continue to swirl around Driscoll’s berry business, raising pressure on agricultural compliance and marketing claims. Industry Events: Seafood Expo Asia/Seafood Processing Asia opens in Singapore with new country pavilions, highlighting Asia’s pull for seafood processing tech and partnerships.

Chile Mining & Tech: MacLean Engineering signed a five-year technology programme with Codelco to test underground mining solutions at El Teniente, focusing on trench scaling, tunnel development and service infrastructure—aimed at safer, more reliable operations in one of the world’s biggest copper mines. Copper Market Watch: Chile’s copper output fell 9.4% in July, with weather disruptions cited as a key drag. Digital Agriculture: Chile’s INIA named María Teresa Pino as acting national director, prioritizing digital agriculture, AI and blueberry genetics, with a push to transfer research into grower-ready tools. Water & Grapes: In northern Chile’s table grape regions, key reservoirs are reported at or near full capacity and spilling in several basins, supported by strong snowpack—potentially improving next-season production and fruit quality. Avocado Outlook: Chile’s Hass avocado crop is forecast at 285,000 tons for 2026-2027, about 10% higher than last season and the highest in 17 years. Logistics: DHL Global Forwarding acquired Uruguay-based Aero Cargas, expanding its LATAM footprint and adding a direct Uruguay operation to strengthen regional trade routing. Energy Risk: Nepal’s flood damage to hydropower capacity is raising doubts about expansion plans and forcing electricity purchases from India—an indirect reminder of climate-linked infrastructure risk across the region.

Energy Storage in Chile: Chile’s National Electricity Coordinator granted Enel Green Power Chile connection authorization for a 356 MW / 2.1 GWh Guanchoi battery energy storage system, to be integrated with the existing PV plant and connected to the Bella Mónica substation; Enel must secure further declarations before construction starts, with completion targeted ahead of September 2027. Copper Watch: Chile’s copper output fell 9.4% year-on-year in July to 403,424 tons, blamed on severe northern weather disrupting production plus maintenance at major sites—raising fresh supply-tightness concerns. Lithium Supply for Batteries: LG Energy Solution signed a long-term $1.5B lithium carbonate deal with U.S. Smackover Lithium for 80,000 tons over 10 years starting in 2029, aimed at strengthening North American battery and energy storage supply chains. Trade & Industry Links: India and Chile advanced CEPA talks in Santiago, with both sides pushing to conclude negotiations by end-2026 and expanding cooperation across healthcare, energy, minerals, agriculture, and engineering. Mining Capital Flows: A cross-Andes “mineral corridor” push is gaining momentum as Chile and Argentina seek more practical mining frameworks, with projects like Sumitomo and G Mining’s Dos Amigos copper-gold in Atacama highlighted as a test case.

Agri-Tech & Exports: Chile’s avocado sector is forecasting a record 275,000 tons, up about 10% from last season, which would be the highest output in 17 years as growers lean on better management, tech and sustainability efforts like water and energy efficiency. Trade & Investment: India and Chile advanced CEPA talks in Santiago, aiming to conclude negotiations by end-2026 and expanding cooperation across healthcare, energy, minerals, agriculture, machinery and engineering. Telecom Business: Digicel appointed Salvador “Salva” Hierrezuelo as group chief business officer, bringing 20+ years of B2B and technology leadership from Telefónica Chile and Telefónica Tech Brazil. Mining & Copper Supply: Capstone Copper completed its $25m acquisition of San Pietro copper assets in Chile’s Atacama, adding new underexplored ground and boosting its district-scale inventory. Space & Science: NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy, with the $4.3bn mission designed to map dark matter and dark energy and potentially extend beyond its planned five-year lifespan.

Renewables & Storage: Grenergy’s Solar Antofagasta filed its SEIA environmental impact declaration for Parque Fotovoltaico Antofagasta 1: a 516.92 MWp solar farm plus a 430 MW BESS (~3,010 MWh, about seven hours) in María Elena, Antofagasta region, with a 33/220 kV Salitre step-up substation and 20.7 km transmission line; total investment is estimated at about $520m. Mining Investment: Sumitomo and G Mining bought a combined 25% stake in Tintina Mines via a jointly funded vehicle, committing about C$48m to advance the Dos Amigos copper-gold project in northern Chile toward a final investment decision. Copper Project Control: Cobre secured majority control of the Sierra Atacama Copper Project, strengthening its growth and copper production plans. Trade & Market Access: India and Chile stepped up CEPA talks in Santiago, aiming to conclude negotiations in 2026 and expand trade and investment cooperation. Aquaculture Leadership: Chile Salmon Council executive president Loreto Seguel will step down and move to CAMPORT, as the sector navigates tariffs and recent court rulings affecting salmon farming concessions. Energy Storage Supply Chain: CATL announced a Moura partnership for Brazil’s 2026 Capacity Reserve Auction, including plans for localized production to meet local-content rules. Space Tech Spotlight: NASA launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy, a major boost for wide-field astronomy that will complement Chile’s Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

Chile Salmon Industry: Chile Salmon Council Executive President Loreto Seguel will step down in the coming months, as the sector navigates tariffs from the Trump administration and legal uncertainty after Chile’s Constitutional Court struck down parts of the “micro-relocation” framework. Trade & Investment: India and Chile are accelerating CEPA talks, with both sides aiming to conclude negotiations by end-2026 and targeting market access plus cooperation in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, energy, minerals, agriculture, machinery and engineering. Mining & Projects: Sumitomo and G Mining Group take a 25% Tintina stake via a jointly funded vehicle to advance Chile’s Dos Amigos copper-gold project through drilling, feasibility, permitting and environmental studies. Space Tech (Chile relevance): NASA launched the $4.3bn Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy mission to map the universe, hunt exoplanets and probe dark matter and dark energy, with Roman’s wide view expected to deliver major new datasets for global astronomy. Food & Exports: Tea exports in Sri Lanka fell 4.9% in Jan–Jul 2026 as Middle East shipping disruptions hit volumes and dollar earnings.