Chile’s COEVA Antofagasta Unanimously Approves US$2.5 Billion Volta Green Ammonia and Hydrogen Plant in Mejillones

The Commission of Environmental Assessment (COEVA) of Antofagasta granted unanimous approval to the Environmental Impact Study for the Volta project, an industrial-scale green ammonia and hydrogen facility in Mejillones, Chile. Promoted by Mejillones Ammonia Energy (MAE), the project represents a US$2.5 billion investment and is projected to produce 620,000 tons of green ammonia annually. Production will be implemented in two phases, each approximately half the nominal capacity, with construction phases spanning 26 and 27 months respectively, and a planned operational life of 50 years.

The facility will employ the Haber-Bosch synthesis process, combining hydrogen—generated via water electrolysis powered by renewable energy—with nitrogen captured from the atmosphere. Two electrolyzer trains delivering a combined 110,000 tons of hydrogen per year will operate in alignment with the phased ammonia production. Electrical supply will derive from a dedicated 600 MW photovoltaic array, supplemented by battery energy storage systems and grid connections. Water supply will reutilize treated municipal wastewater from Mejillones’ treatment plants, alongside desalinated water from existing, approved facilities.

During construction, the project anticipates a workforce peak of 1,788 workers, transitioning to 121 employees in full operation. Ammonia output will be transported via pipeline to a port terminal in Mejillones for distribution, with local sales supported through an on-site truck loading station.

The project’s environmental benefits include an expected annual reduction exceeding one million tons of CO2 emissions, equivalent to removing over 200,000 combustion-engine vehicles from circulation. The biminister of Economy and Energy, Álvaro García, emphasized the project’s scalability, environmental compliance, and its role in diversifying Chile’s export matrix while enhancing employment and regional development. He highlighted the accelerated permitting timeline of 642 days—40% below the national average for similar projects.

Volta marks the third green hydrogen-related Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA) approved in Chile in 2025, collectively representing US$3.77 billion in investments and 1,252 MW of electrolyzer capacity. Locally, officials note the project reinforces Mejillones’ position as a strategic northern industrial hub, complementing broader infrastructure developments such as the bioceanic corridor, with expected positive impacts on technological capacity, productive linkages, and regional competitiveness in renewable energy sectors.