Chile's Mining, Energy Ministry Expects US$49.4mn for 2007

BNamericas

Chile's mining and energy ministry will receive a 26.5bn-peso (US$49.4mn) budget in 2007, 11.6% higher than this year's, minister Karen Poniachik said in a conference.

Specifically, the government will direct 3.49bn pesos to energy regulator CNE, up 35.7% from 2006, she said at state development corporation Corfo's renewable energy conference in Santiago.

The increase is designed to modernize CNE's institutions as well as finance studies and strategic analyses to meet regulatory challenges.

Poniachik said CNE was created "in another era" and must reinforce its institutions in order to fulfill its duties. She also highlighted the need for CNE to conduct studies on renewable energies, particularly biofuels.

Further, the ministry's nuclear commission CCHEN will receive 6.12bn pesos in 2007, up 6.49% from 2006.

MINING

The country's deputy mining ministry will receive 8.49bn pesos of the budget, up 14.9% from 2005.

The deputy ministry's budget includes 287mn pesos to study, explore and develop geothermal projects as well as 129mn pesos for the promotion and administration of a hydrocarbons E&P program.

The country's national geology and mining service Sernageomin will receive 5.83bn pesos in 2007, up 4.7% from 2006, while copper commission Cochilco will receive a 4.1% boost to 2.61bn pesos.

Sernageomin also has proposed creating a map of geothermal concessions in the country, Poniachik said.

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