Chilean health authorities announced that they will extend a COVID-19 emergency through September to allow the government to impose restrictions, a setback in a country that has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. The announcement comes as cases have soared in Chile to some of their highest levels since the pandemic began, despite 61% of citizens receiving at least one vaccine dose and 48% being fully vaccinated.
PwC study depicts that mining companies with higher ESG Rating outperformed market
Mining companies with the highest ESG ratings outperformed the overall market during the peak of the pandemic, achieving 34% average total return to shareholders over the past three years. This is according to PwC's 18th annual report on the top 40 mining companies.
Employment rate remains broadly unchanged at 49.2%
The Centre for Surveys and Longitudinal Studies of the Catholic University presented a new survey of the employment situation at national level during the last week of May. Employment rate was 49.2%, showing no variation compared to April. Compared to the most critical point of the pandemic, 1.1 million jobs have been recovered as of May 2021 which equates to 47% recovery.
Chile receives its first cryogenic energy storage facility
Highview Enlasa's first liquid air energy storage facility in Latin America will be a 50 MW CRYOBattery system in the Atacama region in Chile. This is the first joint venture between Highview Power and Energía Latina SA. The system will be located in Diego de Almagro. The project, with an investment of approximately $150 million, is currently in the pre-feasibility engineering phase and is scheduled to enter environmental processing in August of this year. Construction is estimated to start in the second half of 2023.
Tourism could return to pre-pandemic levels by 2024
According to McKinsey's analysis, tourism is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2024. Depending on how efficient sanitary control is, recovery could be earlier. The study suggests that the first thing the tourism industry should focus on is local travelers.
Chile’s centre-left will govern in Santiago de Chile and most regions
Chile's centre-left became the great winner of second round regional elections held Sunday after winning most of the governorships, including that of the capital, with 99.9% of votes counted. The Constituent Unit pact between left and centre parties won in Santiago de Chile, where Christian Democrats candidate Claudio Orrego got 52.7% of votes. This is the first time in history Chile elects its intermediate authorities instead of appointing them via the government.
1.2 million people have not withdrawn the first 10% of AFP shortly after the term ends
With a month and a half to finish the first 10% withdrawal of pension funds, 90% of the affiliates have completed this pricess while the remaining 10% (1.2 million peope) have not. In total, $21.128 billion have been paid.
Companies in trade, forestry and livestock report difficulties in filling vacanies
According to the National Labour Demand Survey (Enadel), more than 20% of companies in the trade, forestry and agriculture sectors expect to increase their workforce this year. 38% of trade companies and 44% of companies related to forestry and livestock reported difficulties in filling vacancies. This is due to a lack of interest in the industry or inexperienced candidates applying.
Volkswagen, Daimler, BASF & Fairphone launch sustainable lithium initiative
Volkswagen, Daimler, BASF and Fairphone have initiated a partnership for sustainable lithium mining in Chile. The "Responsible Lithium Partnership" aims to promote the responsible use of natural resources, including lithium, in Chile's Salar de Atacama. The four initiators have commissioned the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to coordinate the partnership and set up a so-called multi-stakeholder platform comprising all relevant actors in the Salar watershed – from civil society groups, including indigenous communities, to government institutions and mining companies. According to Volkswagen, the “Responsible Lithium Partnership” started in spring 2021 and has a planned duration of two and a half years.
Chile to get 40% of power from non-conventional renewable energy by 2030
Chile's head of energy and mining ministries announced that non-conventional renewable energy sources (NCRES) will account for 40% of its energy matrix by 2030. In the coming weeks, the government will submit to Congress a bill that seeks to double the national electric system's proportion of NCRES, from 20% to 40% by the end of 2030.
