The infrastructure investment totaled approximately US$40 million and includes a 220/66 kV sectioning substation and a new double-circuit 66 kV transmission line connecting to the Rosario Substation. The Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional authorized commercial operation on May 28, 2026, enabling the facility to enter service during the first semester of the year. The substation is located in Rengo commune and connects to the National Electric System by sectioning the 2×220 kV Candelaria-Puente Negro line.
Construction generated peak employment of 300 workers, providing economic stimulus to the regional labor market during the execution phase. The project specifically aims to improve electricity supply reliability for municipalities including Rancagua and Rengo, where demand has increased significantly due to agricultural and logistics activity.
Deputy Minister Koehler emphasized the importance of strengthening electrical infrastructure for economic development, stating that Chile requires not only energy but increasingly secure energy systems. Rosaline Corinthien, Executive Vice President of Power Networks for ENGIE Group, characterized Totihue as representative of infrastructure investments needed for Chile’s energy transition phase, providing system resilience and bringing energy closer to demand centers with growth potential.
The substation enhances capacity and flexibility in the regional electrical network while supporting the integration of new renewable energy sources into the National Electric System. ENGIE operates over 2,500 kilometers of transmission lines in Chile, including the 600-kilometer TEN line that unified the country’s electrical system in 2017. The Totihue project increases subtransmission system reliability through its double-circuit 66 kV connection, creating new connection points for generation projects under development in the zone.
Acevedo stated the infrastructure represents decades of growth potential for O’Higgins region and constitutes energy security for local communities and the broader national system. The project required high engineering, coordination, and safety standards, reflecting ENGIE’s capacity to execute critical National Electric System infrastructure according to company assessments.
This article was curated and published as part of our South American energy market coverage.
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