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Escudo de Mejillones

Mejillones

AntofagastaFounded 187915.877 inhabitantsPoblación proyectada INE 20243.581 km² of area4 inh./km²$15.055M ingreso municipalSINIM · ingreso total percibido · 2025
Profile today2050
The comuna in context · among 346 comunas
Economy
1.865/1,000 inhab.
7th most promised jobs per inhabitant (one megaproject transforms it)
Explore
Economy
29.606 jobs
4th most jobs promised by investment projects
Explore
Education
524 pts
7th worst PAES reading comprehension
Explore
Society
26.5%
6th largest foreign population share
Explore
Society
+92%
19th fastest population growth (since 2002)
Explore
Environment
52 species in conservation status
27th most documented threatened species
Explore
Population
+21,3%
Population would grow between now and 2050
Society
19,9%
Multidimensional poverty · 131st highest of 346
Finance
$948 thousand
per inhabitant per year · rank 78 of 346
Safety
8.030
cases per 100k inhab. · 37th in the country
Economy
4.185
construction jobs · Investment in the pipeline would promise
Education
523,7 pts
below the national median in the PAES (576,9 pts)
Finance
305th
most dependent on the Common Fund of 340
Summary

What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap

11 Squares and green areas
8 Schools
4 Fire stations
2 Pharmacies
1 Hospitals
1 Kindergartens
1 Health centers
1 Universities
1 Carabineros
1 Libraries

Mejillones es una comuna y ciudad del Norte Grande de Chile, situada a 65 kilómetros al norte de la ciudad de Antofagasta, en la provincia y región del mismo nombre.

Introductory text from Wikipedia, bajo licencia CC BY-SA.

Liveability index · EIU style

42.1 /100
Ver el ranking y simular
#279 of 346 · most liveable in the country (EIU weighting)
Safety58
Health24
Culture and environment50
Education39
Infrastructure33
AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests

Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

Marcelino Carvajal F.Re-elected
CONTIGO CHILE MEJOR · PARTIDO POR LA DEMOCRACIA
5.557
votes (66.89%)
10.640
Electoral roll
83,46%
Turnout
Mayoral history · 7 terms
MC
Marcelino Carvajal F.
2024-2028 · PARTIDO POR LA DEMOCRACIA
5.557
votes
MS
Marcelino Segundo Carvajal Ferreira
2021-2024 · PPD
2.840
votes
MC
Marcelino Carvajal Ferreira
2008-2012 · PPD
2.370
votes
MC
Marcelino Carvajal Ferreira
2004-2008 · PPD
2.436
votes
MC
Marcelino Carvajal Ferreira
2000-2004 · PPD
1.805
votes
MC
Marcelino Carvajal Ferreira
1996-2000 · PPD
1.872
votes
MC
Marcelino Carvajal Ferreira
1992-1996 · PPD
802
votes

SERVEL · TRICEL (1992-2008) · DecideChile (2024) · Wikidata (pre-1992)

Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL

EB
Elsie Biaggini G.
CHILE VAMOS RENOVACIÓN NACIONAL - INDEPENDIENTES · INDEPENDIENTE
1.801
votes
MM
Manuel Monardes R.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · PARTIDO POR LA DEMOCRACIA
1.267
votes
JB
Jose Barraza M.
POR CHILE, SEGUIMOS · PARTIDO COMUNISTA DE CHILE
589
votes
GF
Guillermo Ferreira D.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · PARTIDO SOCIALISTA DE CHILE
350
votes
MC
Maria Cabello G.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · PARTIDO POR LA DEMOCRACIA
317
votes
EE
Enrique Estrada O.
CHILE VAMOS RENOVACIÓN NACIONAL - INDEPENDIENTES · INDEPENDIENTE
148
votes

Sesiones

Última sesión143 minWatch session

En una línea: El concejo aprobó dos contratos de licitación y los proyectos FONDEVE 2026, mientras el Hospital Comunitario expuso su situación de colapso y llamó a vacunarse contra la influenza.

Temas tratados

  • Hospital Comunitario: El director Marcelo Valdovino y su equipo presentaron cobertura de vacunación, funcionamiento de urgencias, sistema de traslados SAMU y gestión de horas médicas.
  • Señaléticas viales: Aprobación del contrato de licitación con la empresa APAS SPA por $79 millones.
  • Vigilancia DAEM: Aprobación del contrato de vigilancia de establecimientos educacionales con ADICEP Limitada por ~$237 millones.
  • FONDEVE 2026: Aprobación de ocho proyectos de juntas de vecinos por montos de ~$3,2–3,3 millones cada uno.
  • Bachadora: Informe del estado del equipo: sin mecánico disponible (con licencia) y sin capacitación vigente del personal operador.
  • Varios: Iluminación del skatepark, seguridad nocturna, garrapatas en veredas, baños de la plaza central cerrados los fines de semana, y reconocimientos a docentes y estudiantes.

Acuerdos y votaciones

  • Señaléticas viales (APAS SPA): Aprobado por unanimidad.
  • Vigilancia DAEM (ADICEP Limitada): Aprobado por unanimidad.
  • FONDEVE 2026 (8 proyectos de juntas de vecinos): Aprobado por unanimidad.
  • No hubo votaciones sobre los demás puntos.

Plata y obras

  • Señaléticas viales: Contrato por $79 millones (hasta dic. 2027). Disponibilidad actual: ~$14,3 millones; el resto debe incorporarse en presupuesto 2027.
  • Vigilancia DAEM: Contrato por ~$237,9 millones (julio–diciembre 2026), financiado con subvención general de educación, recursos JUNJI y aporte DAEM. Garantía de cumplimiento: ~$9,9 millones.
  • FONDEVE 2026: Ocho proyectos de juntas de vecinos, montos individuales entre $3,2 y $3,3 millones aprox. Financiados con arcas municipales.
  • Hospital informó que opera con 130 consultas médicas diarias promedio y que el sistema de traslados depende de la disponibilidad de camas en el Hospital Regional de Antofagasta, actualmente colapsado.

Puntos de debate o controversia

  • Bachadora sin uso: Concejales cuestionaron por qué el equipo lleva largo tiempo inoperativo pese a su costo. El director de obras aclaró que falta capacitación del personal y revisión mecánica; la persona encargada del parque automotriz no se presentó al punto de tabla.
  • Fiscalización FONDEVE: Varios concejales señalaron que se aprueba el FONDEVE 2026 sin haber fiscalizado el de 2025, y pidieron corregir esto para el próximo ciclo.
  • Seguridad nocturna: Concejala Lisa (nombre aproximado) planteó aumento de asaltos en las noches y solicitó información sobre el estado del convenio de seguridad con Antofagasta.
  • SAMU: El hospital reiteró que no tiene dependencia administrativa ni técnica del SAMU, y que instalar una ambulancia propia sin dotación certificada no resuelve el problema.

Para seguir

  • Invitar al arquitecto o responsable técnico del proyecto hospital nuevo para presentarlo en detalle al concejo.
  • Solicitar informe escrito sobre el parque automotriz municipal (operadores, vehículos en servicio/fuera de servicio, garantías vigentes).
  • Gestionar capacitación del personal para operar la bachadora y concretar revisión mecánica cuando retorne el mecánico.
  • Modificar las bases del FONDEVE para exigir fiscalización del año anterior antes de aprobar el siguiente.
  • Reparar valiza peatonal en el ingreso de Mejillones (señalizada por concejal José Barrasa, nombre aproximado).
  • Evaluar fumigación de garrapatas en veredas de varios sectores (coordinar con dirección de medio ambiente).
  • Revisar apertura de baños de plaza central los fines de semana.
  • Mejorar iluminación del skatepark como medida provisional mientras avanza el proyecto de remodelación.

Summary generated by AI (claude-sonnet-4-6) from the official broadcast transcript · may contain inaccuracies

Official council minutesSource: CPLT · Active Transparency inventory (Law 20.285)

What the council resolvesSource: Official minutes · AI extraction (ongoing)

Resolutions extracted
629
of 473 minutes read
Money involved
$4.756.996.246
sum of resolutions with amounts
ResolutionTypeAmountVote
4.5 · Adjudicación de licitaciones para servicios y materiales educativos por varios montosTender$78.130.329
4.4 · Adjudicación de licitación para espectáculo pirotécnico por $13,090,000 CLPTender$13.090.000
4.3 · Adjudicación de licitación para servicio parque inflables por $15,000,000 CLPTender$15.000.000
4.2 · Adjudicación de licitación para toldos plegables por $999,981 CLPTender$999.981
4.1 · Adjudicación de licitación para juegos inflables navideños por $987,700 CLPTender$987.700
Se entrega informe de contrataciones y adjudicaciones del mes de diciembre 2015Tender

Resolutions voted by the council, automatically extracted from the official minutes (extraction ongoing: coverage grows as the 94.917 indexed minutes are processed). May contain reading errors; the official document is the municipality's PDF.

Comptroller auditsSource: CGR · Municipal Observatory

Findingstotal
128
Highly complex
46
Audit reports
0
YearFindingsAltam.Compl.Median.Reports
2025514
20231312
20216132
20193617127
20183111137
20173716137

CGR severity classification · audit findings on the municipality and its corporations

Who requests meetings with the municipalitySource: InfoLobby · CPLT (Law 20,730)

  • CD
    Compania de Petroleos de Chile Copec S a
    Lobby / interest management · 13 audiencias · 2016–2025
  • AD
    Asociación de Industriales de Mejillones
    Lobby / interest management · 11 audiencias · 2017–2026
  • PR
    Planta Recuperadora de Metales
    Lobby / interest management · 10 audiencias · 2016–2024
  • ES
    Enaex S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 10 audiencias · 2015–2026
  • EE
    Engie Energía Chile S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 10 audiencias · 2015–2026
  • MH
    Mae Holding Chile SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 9 audiencias · 2022–2026
  • CS
    Caitan SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 9 audiencias · 2024–2026
  • CM
    Compañía Minera Cielo Azul Limitada
    Lobby / interest management · 8 audiencias · 2020–2026
  • PA
    Puerto Abierto S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 8 audiencias · 2022–2025
  • E
    Endesa
    Lobby / interest management · 7 audiencias · 2015–2024
  • MC
    Minera Centinela
    Lobby / interest management · 7 audiencias · 2023–2026
  • CG
    Compañía General de Electricidad S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 7 audiencias · 2018–2026
  • ES
    Entorno Social S. A.
    Lobby / interest management · 6 audiencias · 2019–2020
  • SG
    Sociedad Gnl Mejillones S.a,
    Lobby / interest management · 6 audiencias · 2018–2022
  • AG
    Aes Gener
    Lobby / interest management · 5 audiencias · 2022–2025
  • TE
    Transmisora Eléctrica del Norte S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 5 audiencias · 2016–2021
  • Ae
    Asesoría e Inversiones Nexos SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 5 audiencias · 2020
  • CP
    Compañia Portuaria Mejillones S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 5 audiencias · 2024–2026
  • IT
    Interacid Trading Chile S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 5 audiencias · 2015–2026
  • SM
    Servicios Marítimos y Transportes
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2021–2025
and 199 more organizations that requested meetings

Organisations that registered Lobby Law meetings with this municipality. Registering the meeting is mandatory for the official, so the list shows who asked to be heard, not whether they got anything.

PopulationWho lives here, how they study, their healthcare and more

Population and living conditionsSource: INE · CENSO · MINEDUC · ADIS

Population trend

8.400
inhabitants
16.087
inhabitants
20022025

How it has changedSource: Official INE series 2002–2026 (2017 base).

See the full trajectory to 2050
Since 2002
+94%
inhabitants
Estimated population 2050
19.758
+11% vs. 2035 (17.824)
Over 60 · 2050
20,38%
15,04% in 2035 · +5 pts of ageing

INE projects comuna population only through 2035; the 2050 values are an own estimate by the monitor, anchored to the official INE 2050 national total (21,626,079 inhab, 32.1% aged 60+). Not an official comuna figure.

IndicatorValueSource
Homes with public water supply (2017 Census)88,85 %CENSO 2017 2017
School disengagement (leaves the system)1,4 %MINEDUC 2023
School enrollment209 studentsMINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
Municipal enrollment100 %MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
PAES reading comprehension (DEMRE)523,7 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
PAES mathematics M1 (DEMRE)533 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
poblacion_censo14.084 inh.2024 Census 2024
Income poverty (CASEN 2022)7,1 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022)19,9 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Indigenous peoples10,77 %2024 Census 2024

The PAES year is that of the admission process: the test is sat in November of the previous year. The average covers only those who registered to apply to university —not every secondary-school graduate— and groups them by the comuna of the school they graduated from, not by where the student lives. Here it rests on 166 students registered for the PAES.

Registro Social de Hogares

People in the RSH
15.491
8.600 households
Households in the most vulnerable 40%
3.684
43% of RSH households
Female-headed households
48%
4.164
Elderly (60+)2.12314%
Children and adolescents (<18)4.13527%
Foreign nationals3.98226%
Belonging to indigenous peoples6154%
People with moderate/severe dependency1241%
Single-person households4.61954%

A monthly administrative snapshot of the Social Household Registry (self-registration to access benefits), as of abril 2026. The "bracket 40" is the socioeconomic rating of the most vulnerable 40%. It is a registry, not a survey: it complements CASEN (biennial) with fresh data, but well-off comunas under-register. Source: ADIS, Ministry of Social Development and Family.

School educationSource: MINEDUC Open Data 2025

School enrollment
3.627
7 schools
Students per teacher
21,3
170 teachers
national median: 10,15
Average attendance
88%
national median: 89,8%
Priority studentsSEP
52,7%
socioeconomic vulnerability
national median: 66,8%
Where they study · by provider
Public (municipal + SLEP) 96%Private subsidized 4%
Pass rate
99,1%
national median: 98,2%
Dropoutschool withdrawal
0,86%
dropout during the year
national median: 1,77%

Aggregate of all the comuna's schools (RBD → comuna). Pass/withdrawal and attendance are from the 2025 school year. SIMCE is not published as open data (managed by the Quality Agency, by request only); the available quality proxy is passing, dropout and attendance. The PAES result appears in the social section.

Municipal healthcare (primary care)Source: SINIM · MINSAL / FONASA

Clinics
0
Rural health posts
0
FONASA enrollees
0
0% of the population
Doctors employed
0
Primary-care medical visits · per year
12.432
38.578
20102025
Medical specialties served · 1 in the comuna (public system)
Adult Nephrology

Specialties with services recorded at the comuna's public facilities (REM DEIS, 2024). These are services performed, not doctor headcount. Excludes the private network.

Comprehensive home visits · per year
395
715
20192025

REM-26 section A (DEIS/MINSAL): comprehensive family visits, summed across the comuna's facilities. The last year is partial while DEIS consolidates monthly reports.

Indigenous peoplesSource: 2024 Census (INE) · CONADI via IDE SMA

Indigenous population
1.517
10.8% of the census population (Census 2024)
PeoplePeople% of total
Mapuche42528.0%
Chango27017.8%
Aymara26317.3%
Diaguita20913.8%
Quechua18111.9%
Atacameño o Lickanantay694.5%
Otro694.5%

2024 Census: people who consider themselves as belonging to an indigenous people (small counts are suppressed for confidentiality at the source and not shown). Communities: CONADI national registry as of March 2024 — Araucanía and Los Lagos not refreshed in that update, the count is a floor. Land grants: 2022 registry.

8 Local media · 1 Comunitaria · 7 FMSource: SUBTEL · broadcasting licences · Regional Media Survey (MSGG)

Local mediaTypedial
FPFM PLUSFM95.5 FM
MMEJILLONESFM100.9 FM
RRINCONADAFM94.3 FM
CICnc Inversiones S.A. · holderFM102.1 FM
EdEmpresa de Servicios Juan Avalos Rubio E.I.R.L. · holderFM104.3 FM
EBEn Busca de Su Presencia Iglesia Betel · holderComunitaria107.1 FM
IyIngenieria y Gestion Industrial SpA · holderFM96.1 FM
LSLuis Segundo Torres Juarez E.I.R.L. · holderFM102.9 FM

The dial (frequency) of every FM, AM and community radio with a studio in the comuna (SUBTEL, active sound broadcasting concessions). National networks appear in their headquarters' comuna, not necessarily where they broadcast. When SUBTEL records no brand name, its holder (the concession holder).

Foreign-born populationSource: 2024 Census · INE

Foreign nationals
4.202
29,8% of the census population (Census 2024)
Main origin
Bolivia
2.890 people · 69% of the foreigners
Main countries of origin
2.890 Bolivia
822 Colombia
171 Perú
169 Venezuela

International immigrants per the 2024 Census (people born outside Chile living in the comuna). Nationwide they are 1,608,650 people, 8.8% of the population.

Housing and housing deficitSource: MINVU (Encampment Registry + 2024 Census deficit + subsidies) · INE

Families in informal settlements
526
2 encampments (2024 Registry)
Housing deficit
774
16,3% of the comuna's households
Housing permits · 2024
3
417 m² · new construction
Subsidies Integrated System · DS01
147
paid · 2011–2025
Subsidies Solidarity Fund · DS49
732
beneficiaries · 2012–2025
Subsidies Rental · DS52
6
paid · 2014–2024

Encampments: MINVU National Registry 2024 (irregular settlements and the families living in them). Quantitative deficit: homes missing per the 2024 Census (doubling-up + unrecoverable overcrowding). Permits: new homes authorized by the Works Directorate in 2024 (INE) — measures future construction, not stock. Subsidies: MINVU by application comuna — DS49 accrues beneficiaries by resolution year; DS01 and DS52 accrue payments by application cohort (national totals in the source file differ ~1–6% from the comuna sum; the comuna series is published).

What the homes are like

8.334homes · by type (2017)
House
3.236 · 81.4%
House
3.089 · 70.9%
Apartment
1.101 · 25.3%
Apartment
473 · 11.9%
Shack/hut/shanty
198 · 5%
Shack/improvised dwelling
71 · 1.6%
Other private
56 · 1.3%
Other private
49 · 1.2%
Room in old house/tenement
35 · 0.8%
Room in old house/tenement
13 · 0.3%
Mobile
6 · 0.2%
Mobile
6 · 0.1%
Indigenous dwelling
1 · 0%
68%owner-occupied · tenure (2002)
Owned outright
722 · 38.6%
Owned, being paid off
547 · 29.2%
Rented
369 · 19.7%
Provided for work
127 · 6.8%
Free of charge
106 · 5.7%

Housing type: 2017 Census · tenure: 2002 Census (INE).

ResourcesBudget, spending, municipal procurement and more

Benefits under special regimesSource: Laws/SII/BCN/MTT/Treasury · deep-research verified

Fiscal or economic treatments that apply only to this comuna or its zone, not the rest of Chile. The chip color shows who it reaches: municipality, community, residents, companies or workers.

Mining rent
Escondida (BHP) — Fundación Minera Escondidacommunity
RSE voluntaria (regional)

Fondos concursables voluntarios en la Región de Antofagasta: concurso "+Unidos 2026" hasta $230 M CLP (techo, no desembolso garantizado); $61 M al Fondo Mixto regional en 2015. RSE de alcance REGIONAL, no compromiso comunal vinculante. No existe el "1% de utilidades".

Hasta $230 M CLP (regional, concursable)· concurso 2026Source
Royalty minero — Fondo de Comunas Minerasmunicipality
Ley 21.591/2023

En 2024 el Fondo Puente (anticipo, ~50% de la distribución) repartió $22.891 millones a 43 comunas mineras de 6 regiones. Ingreso MUNICIPAL. Acá se listan las comunas nombradas oficialmente; la lista completa (43) está en Hacienda/TGR. (Cruza con SINIM royalty, var ya cargada en finanzas.)

Parte de $22.891 M (2024, Fondo Puente)· desde 2024Source
Others
Asignación de zona 40% (DL 249)workerspreliminary data
DL 249/1974 art. 7 · DL 3.551/1980 art. 25 · Ley 19.354

Sobresueldo mensual a funcionarios públicos según aislamiento/costo de vida: 40% del sueldo base (art. 7 DL 249). A los funcionarios municipales llega vía art. 25 del DL 3.551/1980 y el monto se aumenta en 40% (Ley 19.354) — salud primaria municipal (Ley 19.378) la percibe sin ese aumento; asistentes de la educación y personal de corporaciones no la perciben (Código del Trabajo). El %/territorio usa la división de 1974: dentro de una comuna pueden regir % mayores en localidades específicas (retenes, islas, cordillera) no reflejados acá; la CGR resuelve caso a caso. Comunas sin asignación no aparecen.

40% del sueldo base (municipal: ×1,4 por Ley 19.354)· vigente (art. 7 versión 22-dic-2021, verificado 2026-07-02)Source

Budget and revenue sourcesSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Total revenue · 2025
$15.054.777.000
Own revenue
$9.134.264.000
61% of the total
Municipal Common Fund
$3.942.156.000
26% of the total
State transfers
$1.714.753.000
11% of the total
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios

Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)

$1.227.940.000
$15.054.777.000
20012025

Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025

21.9%
48.0%
6.1%
20.7%
Property tax$2.003.318.000
Business licenses$4.387.818.000
Vehicle permits$289.000.000
Cleaning fees$559.797.000
Other own revenue$1.894.331.000
Special-law revenues · 2025
Mining licenses (Law 19.143): $457.160.000Aquaculture licenses (Law 20.033): $13.678.000

Distributed by law to specific comunas; they arrive via transfers.

Revenue by sector · 2025
53.7%
46.3%
Municipal$15.054.777.000
Education$13.000.093.000
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Net recipient: it receives $3.451.345.000 more than it contributes.
Evolución por fuente de ingreso

Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend

$649.958.000
$9.134.264.000
20012025

FCM received · trend

$335.779.000
$3.942.156.000
20012025

State transfers · trend

$117.117.000
$1.714.753.000
20012025

Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Current budget · 2025
$21.249.265.000
Accrued spending · 2025
$14.544.646.000
Execution rate
68.4%
Unexecuted: $6.704.619.000
Low execution: it only executed 68.4% of the budget — $6.704.619.000 unspent.

Accrued spending · trend

$1.205.910.000
$14.544.646.000
20012025

Distribution by management area · 2025

51.1%
20.4%
15.2%
7.3%
Internal management$7.432.112.000
Community services$2.963.656.000
Social programs$2.209.547.000
Municipal activities$508.584.000
Recreational programs$1.058.747.000
Cultural programs$372.000.000

What the budget is spent on · 2025

Spending lineAmount% of spending
Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance$4.908.343.00033.7%
Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees$3.640.255.00025.0%
Investment (works and projects)$1.129.687.0007.8%
Cleaning, garbage and landfills · waste collection and disposal$688.326.0004.7%
Electricity (facilities)$253.700.0001.7%
Transfers to education$250.000.0001.7%
Water (facilities)$192.210.0001.3%
Street lighting$184.235.0001.3%
Councillor stipends$83.471.0000.6%
Travel allowances$17.912.0000.1%
Commissions and representation$2.611.0000.0%

Share of total accrued spending. Lines overlap (personnel sits inside several areas), so they don't add to 100%. Source: SINIM.

Personal y dotación municipal

Spending composition · 2025

25.0%
33.7%
41.2%
Personnel (Subt. 21)$3.640.255.000
Goods and services (Subt. 22)$4.908.343.000
Others$5.996.048.000

Personnel by contract type · 2025

46.0%
21.9%
29.6%
Permanent staff$2.395.296.000
Contract staff$1.140.223.000
Fee contracts$104.736.000
Labor Code$19.712.000
Community progs.$1.541.702.000

Municipal headcount · 2023

51.6%
48.4%
Permanent staff64
Contract staff60
Total: 124 staffWomen: 45.2%Professionalization: 33.9%
Cost/staffer permanent: $30.299.547/yearCost/staffer contract: $23.430.133/year

Municipal staff by contract status (SINIM, 2023). Cost per staffer = annual spending of the type ÷ same-year headcount.

Inversión, servicios básicos y obras

Investment and authorities' expenses · 2025

Municipal investment: $1.129.687.000 (7.8% of spending)Councillor stipends: $83.471.000Travel allowances: $17.912.000Commissions and representation: $2.611.000

Basic and general services · 2025

Garbage and landfills: $688.326.000Street lighting: $184.235.000Electricity: $253.700.000Water: $192.210.000

Final works approvals (DOM) · per year

3
39
20022025

Building permits issued · per year

31
23
20122025

What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data

Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público
Historic amount
$94.550.472.842
Purchase orders
23.261

Purchase-order amount · trend

$1.334.354.922
$5.503.627.115
20072026
Top suppliersAmountPOs
Panther Management SpA$9.315.977.6764
Doble M Construccion y Servicios SpA$3.802.611.60811
Crai Ingenieria en Construccion SpA$3.190.038.98418
Orlando Patricio$2.834.002.58322
Sociedad Capacitación y Vigilancia Privada SpA$2.761.817.503130
Pena Spoerer y Cia S a$2.453.160.6139
Nucleo Paisajismo S.A.$2.005.644.1035
Finning Chile S a$1.948.334.16014

Purchase mechanism · 2026

Tender $4.358.751.35779%
Agile Purchase $741.266.48613%
Framework Agreement $338.151.2106%
Direct award discretionary$65.458.0591%

Companies and economic activitySource: SII · company statistics and roster (domicile/HQ)

Registered companies
934
domiciled in the comuna
Dependent workers
4.271

Pyramid by sales bracket

57.8%
20.8%
17.8%
Micro (≤2,400 UF)540 companies
Small (≤25k UF)194 companies
Medium (≤100k UF)20 companies
Large (>100k UF)14 companies
No sales/no info166 companies

Largest companies domiciled in the comuna

CompanyLine of businessSales bracketWorkers
Sociedad de Procesamiento de Molibdeno SpAINDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERALarge 4 (>1M UF)297
Complejo Industrial Molynor S.A.INDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERALarge 4 (>1M UF)289
Cia Portuaria Mejillones S aTRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOLarge 4 (>1M UF)175
Noracid S.A.INDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERALarge 4 (>1M UF)90
Terminal Graneles del Norte S.A.TRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOLarge 4 (>1M UF)30
Central Termoelectrica Andina SpASUMINISTRO DE ELECTRICIDAD, GAS, VAPOR Y AIRELarge 4 (>1M UF)
Puerto de Mejillones S.A.TRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOLarge 4 (>1M UF)
Inversiones Hornitos SpASUMINISTRO DE ELECTRICIDAD, GAS, VAPOR Y AIRELarge 3
Kospo Power Services LimitadaACTIVIDADES DE SERVICIOS ADMINISTRATIVOS Y DELarge 268
Terminal Mejillones LimitadaTRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOLarge 249

SII roster of legal entities (public). Due to tax secrecy sales come in brackets, never amounts. The comuna is that of the domicile/HQ: operations may be elsewhere.

Investment in SEIA projects

Under review
13
US$ 3.951 M declared
Approved last 5 years
31
US$ 5.570 M declared
Construction jobsunder review
4.185
+ 2.767 in operations
Construction jobsapproved 5 yrs
5.476
peak labor
ProjectOwnerStatusInvestment (US$M)Constr. jobs
Continuidad Operacional Minera El Abra y Desarrollo de Planta ConcentrEIASociedad Contractual Minera el AbraUnder Review7.5008.842
Desarrollo Futuro DMHEIADivisión Ministro Hales de Codelco Approved2.800465
Proyecto Volta - Planta de Hidrógeno y Amoníaco VerdeEIAVolta Hidrógeno SpAApproved2.5001.788
Adecuación Operacional SpenceEIAMinera Spence S.A.Approved1.652185
Línea de Transmisión Eléctrica HVDC Kimal - Lo AguirreEIAConexión Kimal Lo Aguirre S.A.Approved1.4809.535
Complejo Tecnológico NorQuim para la Producción y Almacenamiento de MeEIANorquim SpAUnder Review1.200684
Aumento de Capacidad y Optimización Producción Planta de Litio CarmenDIANova Andino Litio SpAApproved9871.000
Complejo tecnológico NorQuim para la producción y almacenamiento de CaEIANorquim SpAUnder Review900894
Proyecto Minero de Cobre Óxidos MarimacaDIACompañía Minera Cielo Azul LimitadaApproved5002.453
Mejoras y aumento de capacidad para la continuidad operacional de la FEIAMantos Copper S.A.Under Review500905
Proyecto AlbaDIAEléctrica Angamos S.P.A.Approved450300
Sistema de Almacenamiento de Energía (BESS) en Subestación Eléctrica LDIARíos Chile Machalí SpAApproved28140

Investment DECLARED by the owner upon entering SEIA (not necessarily materialized; the RCA expires after 5 years without works). Multi-comuna projects: prorated investment, jobs counted in full. Jobs = declared peak labor (source PRISMA/SOFOFA). Source: e-SEIA + PRISMA.

TerritoryClimate, biodiversity, national heritage, SEIA-approved projects and more

Roads and motorwaysSource: OpenStreetMap · 2026 snapshot

Kilometres of trunk road
93 km
Motorways and trunk roads crossing the comuna

Road infrastructure of the MOP and concession holders, not the municipality: it measures how much highway crosses the territory, not municipal management. Only comunas with roads of this category are counted.

Environment and air qualitySource: MMA · SINCA + PPDA + RETC

No air monitoring station (SINCA) in the comuna.

4monitoring stations· measures MP10; O3; SO2; NO2; CO· stations: Compañía de Bomberos, Ferrocarriles, Jardín Infantil Integra, Juan Jose Latorre
Air emissions from industrial sources · tons/year (RETC 2020)
8.607 t SO₂
558 t MP2,5
9 t MP10
2 t Material particulado

Air quality observed at MMA's SINCA stations within the comuna (2020); when there are several, the worst is shown. The scale compares the annual average with the WHO 2021 guideline (PM2.5 = 5 · PM10 = 15 µg/m³, international health reference) and the Chilean annual primary standard (PM2.5 = 20 · PM10 = 50 µg/m³): green within the WHO guideline, amber between guideline and standard, red above the national standard. "Days above standard" use the 24-h daily standard (PM2.5 = 50 · PM10 = 150 µg/m³). RETC emissions = declared point sources (industry/energy), excludes diffuse sources like residential firewood.

Biodiversity and protected areasSource: SNASPE · SEIA baselines

Species of flora, fauna and funga documented in the baselines of the projects evaluated by SEIA in the comuna — what their environmental studies recorded in the territory. Conservation status (RCE/IUCN) and Chilean endemism are flagged.

155
Species
53
Flora
101
Fauna
1
Funga
74
In conservation status
39
Endemic to Chile
Species in conservation category
Belloto del norte, belloto (genérico)Beilschmiedia miersiiVURuilNothofagus alessandriiENBelloto del surBeilschmiedia berteroanaENQueuleGomortega keuleENPitaoPitavia punctataENDragón de stolzmann, lagartija de stolzmannLiolaemus stolzmanniVULagartija de paulinaLiolaemus paulinaeVUSandillón, asiento de la suegraEriosyce aurataVULagartija de patricia iturraLIolaemus patriciaiturraeVUCaracolHeleobia atacamensisCRLagartija de hellmichLiolaemus hellmichiVUDragón de oído cubiertoLiolaemus audituvelatusVUAñañucaPhycella scarlatinaVUSapo de ruloRhinella aruncoVULagarto gruñidor de álvaroPristidactylus alvaroiCRCaracol de vertienteHeleobia chimbaensisVULagartija de eleodoroLiolaemus rosenmanniVUChinchilla costinaChinchilla lanigeraENGuayacánPorlieria chilensisVUPalma chilena, palmera chilena, palmera de coquitos, palma de miel, palma de vino de chile, can – canJubaea chilensisENSapo de dankoTelmatobius dankoiCRCaracolHeleobia transitoriaCRCaracolHeleobia ascotanensisENGaviotín chicoSternula lorataENAraucaria, pehuén, piñonero, pino piñonero, pino chileno, pino araucaria, pewen, guiliuAraucaria araucanaENGaviota garumaLeucophaeus modestusVUZorro colorado, zorro culpeo, zorro coloradode tierra del fuego, zorro culpeo de tierra del fuegoLycalopex culpaeusVUTortuga verde, tortuga negraChelonia mydasENGuanacoLama guanicoeVUTortuga oliváceaLepidochelys olivaceaVUChungungo, nutria marina, gato de mar, chinchiménLontra felinaENTortuga laúd, baulaDermochelys coriaceaCRPingüino de humboldt, pingüino, pájaro niño, patranka, humboldt penguin (inglés), peruvian penguin (inglés)Spheniscus humboldtiENZarapito de pico recto, aguja café, becasina de mar, hudsonian godwit (inglés)Limosa haemasticaVUGolondrina de mar negra, markham’s storm-petrelHydrobates markhamiENDelfín naríz de botellaTursiops truncatusENTortuga boba, tortuga cabezonaCaretta carettaCRAlerceFitzroya cupressoidesENGolondrina de mar de collar, ringed storm petrel (inglés)Hydrobates hornbyiVUChorlo nevadoCharadrius nivosusVUElefante marinoMirounga leoninaVUCanelo, boique, voigue, fuñe, choólDrimys winteriENTricahueCyanoliseus patagonusENGüiñaLeopardus guignaVUVicuñaVicugna vicugnaVUFlamenco andino, parina grandePhoenicoparrus andinusVUPiuquén, piquén, guayataChloephaga melanopteraENBallena jorobadaMegaptera novaeangliaeVUParina chicaPhoenicoparrus jamesiVUBallena de aleta, rorcual comúnBalaenoptera physalusCRBallena franca australEubalaena australisENChinchilla cordilleranaChinchilla chinchillaCRDragón de torres-muraLiolaemus torresiNTJagartija de velosoLiolaemus velosoiNTIguanaCallopistes maculatusNTCarbonillo, mendozaCordia decandraNTPilpilén, pilpilén común, american oystercatcher (inglés)Haematopus palliatusNTGaviotín monjaLarosterna incaNTLilePhalacrocorax gaimardiNTPelícano peruano, pelícano de humboldtPelecanus thagusNT
and 14 more

CR critically endangered · EN endangered · VU vulnerable · NT near threatened (Species Classification Regulation / IUCN). ★ endemic to Chile. Extracted from SEIA studies by kingdom; presence reflects what baselines characterized, not a census.

Large projects approved by SEIASource: SEIA · approved projects

Projects with an environmental permit (RCA) approved by SEIA and declared investment above US$ 10 million, located in the comuna according to the case file and grouped by sector. Every sector with at least one project is listed: this is not a ranking or a selection. 160 projects totaling US$ 29.324 million, approved between 1993 and 2026. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.

Energy55 projects · US$ 11.108 M · 1995–2025
Engie Energía Chile S.A.Actualización Infraestructura Energética Mejillones · Infraestructura Energética Mejillones
Mining37 projects · US$ 9.802 M · 1993–2026
Codelco Chile, División Radomiro TomicRT Sulfuros · Desarrollo Minera Centinela
Others41 projects · US$ 4.060 M · 1997–2025
Volta Hidrógeno SpAProyecto Volta - Planta de Hidrógeno y Amoníaco Verde · NUEVAS EMULSIONES MATRIZ
Miscellaneous industrial facilities13 projects · US$ 2.429 M · 2000–2017
División Ministro Hales de Codelco ChileFundición y Refinería Mejillones · Ampliación y Modernización Planta Prillex América
Port Infrastructure10 projects · US$ 1.480 M · 1996–2019
Complejo Portuario Mejillones S.A.Complejo Portuario de Mejillones · Terminal Marítimo Flotante de GNL
Environmental Sanitation2 projects · US$ 407 M · 2010–2017
Caitan SpAPlanta desalinizadora y suministro de agua industrial · Depósito de Residuos de Combustión y Yeso de Central Kelar
Hydraulic Infrastructure2 projects · US$ 38 M · 2012–2024
Engie Energía Chile S.A.Reúso de infraestructura de agua industrial · Profundización Sitios 2 y 3, Terminal 1 Complejo Portuario Mejillones, II Región

Approved is not the same as built or operating: the RCA authorises the project, but some were never carried out and others have since closed.

Source: projects with an RCA approved by SEIA (investment declared by the developer, split among the comunas the project spans). Under each sector are its two largest projects by investment. It is the best public proxy for large industrial sites; SERNAGEOMIN’s registry of active mining operations (by mineral and type of operation) is a layer not yet incorporated.

Basic utilitiesSource: SISS · CNE · MINEDUC

Distribuidora eléctrica
CGE
Empresa sanitaria (agua y alcantarillado)
Aguas de Antofagasta
Higher education
1 campus in the comuna

Almost no comuna has its own utility: it is served by a major regional concession holder. Water = urban operational territory (SISS; rural goes via APR); electric = concession distributor per the tariff decree (CNE); higher education = university, IP and CFT campuses (MINEDUC/SIES), with the nearest comuna when there are none.

Environmental conflictsSource: SNIFA · SMA + Environmental Search · Environmental Courts

Appeals before the Environmental Courts

Appeals
6
on projects in the comuna
Case no.Parties / projectSubjectDecision
R-107-2024
1TA
Manuel Jesús Carvajal Donoso y otra con Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Operación Unidades CTA/CTH con 100% Biomasa del titular Central Termoeléctrica Andina SpA.
Administrative invalidationRejects
R-111-2024
1TA
Manuel Jesús Carvajal Donoso y otros con Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Proyecto Alba
Environmental assessment - Citizen participationRejects
R-138-2025
1TA
ENGIE Energía Chile S.A. con Comisión de Evaluación de Antofagasta
Central Térmica Andino
Article 25 quinquiesRejects
R-333-2022
2TA
Comunidad Indígena Colla de la Comuna de Copiapó y otros en contra del Director ejecutivo del Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Proyecto Blanco
Environmental AssessmentRejects
R-92-2023
1TA
Saba Ester Galindo Gacitúa y otros con Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Proyecto “Conversión a Gas Natural de IEM
Administrative invalidationRejects
28195-2018
2TA
Comunidad Indígena Atacameña de San Francisco de Chiu Chiu en contra del Comité de Ministros (Resolución N° 0478-2017, de 12 de mayo 2017). 
RT Sulfuros
Environmental assessment - Indigenous ConsultationRejects

Appeals resolved by the Environmental Courts (Law 20.600) on the comuna's projects or facilities, geolocated by the associated project (SEIA) or sanctioned facility (SMA). Partial coverage: Supreme Court appeals and cases without a locatable act are excluded. Source: 1st Environmental Court's Environmental Search.

Green areasSource: SINIM · SUBDERE (2024)

Green space per capita
1 m²
10% of the CNDU standard
standard 10 m²

Municipally maintained green area per inhabitant (SINIM). The National Urban Development Council recommends a minimum of 10 m²/inhab (WHO, ~9). Self-reported by municipalities, with quality varying across comunas.

National heritageSource: National Monuments Council (Feb 2026)

National monuments
1
Nature sanctuaries
1

Monuments declared by decree (official CMN roster). Excludes archaeological and public monuments. Declaration entails legal protection and intervention restrictions.

Territorial burdensSource: SUBDERE (waste, Jun 2023) · Gendarmería (Jun 2025) · SISS (WWTP)

Infrastructure this comuna carries — often serving others.

FacilityTypeDetail
Vertedero Municipal de MejillonesVertedero9.742 t/year
ES - MEJILLONESPTAS · emisario submarinoA.ANTOFAGASTA S.A. · discharges into mar
Where this comuna's waste goes
Vertedero Municipal de Mejillones (Mejillones) · 9.742 t/year

Official registries: they exclude illegal dumps and rural WWTPs (no consolidated public registry).

Winter riskSource: SENAPRED · winter critical points 2026 (via FAU U. de Chile)

Critical points registered
7
At high or very high risk
3
Main threat
Daño/pérdida en infraestruct…
Daño/pérdida en infraestructura (Ej.: Vial, Portuario/Costero, Agrícola, otros)

Points in the comuna where SENAPRED identifies winter-rain risk (channel overflows, flooding, collector collapse, landslides, mudflows, snow), with risk level and the agency responsible for the fix.

Climate and climate changeSource: ARClim · MMA + CR2/UC (CMIP6 modeling)

Mean annual temperature
14,9°C
2035-2065 projection: +1,67°C
Annual precipitation
4 mm
projection: +1.240%
Hot days>30°C
0
projection: +1 days
Frost days
6

Modeled climatology (CMIP6 downscaling ~5 km): present ≈ 1980-2010, projection ≈ 2035-2065 middle scenario. Not recent weather observation.

SafetyCrime, road crashes and municipal security infrastructure

Crimes (police cases)Source: CEAD · Ministry of Public Security

Police cases · 2025
1.275
all crimes
Rate per 100,000 inhab.
8.030
Police cases · trend
1.426
1.275
20102025
By crime type · 2025
CrimeCasesRate/100k
Alcohol and drug use in public spaces2421.524
Domestic violence1771.115
Threats1621.020
Property damage127800
Burglary of an uninhabited place100630
Minor injuries97611
Larceny85535
Theft of items from vehicles39246
Burglary of an inhabited place38239
Robbery with violence or intimidation28176
Less serious injuries19120
Other burglaries (forcible entry)19120

Showing the 12 crimes with most cases of 29.

Police cases (reports + arrests) recorded by Carabineros and PDI. Not victimization (ENUSC measures the real figure, higher due to underreporting). The rate uses INE 2024 population. Source: CEAD, Ministry of Public Security.

What the municipality does

Municipal security infrastructure and staff declared to SINIM (since 2016). Excludes Carabineros and PDI, which are national.

Surveillance cameras
48
Guards and inspectors
0
1 per 15.877 hab
Patrol fleet
4
cars, pickups, motorcycles, bikes
Patrol fleet by type
Cars: 2Pickups: 2
Surveillance cameras · trend
24
48
20202025

Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)

Crashes · 2024
6
Deaths
3
18,9 per 100,000 inhab.
Injured
11
4 serious
Pedestrian collisions
1

Crashes georeferenced by CONASET (urban + highway) during 2024. The only per-comuna source; covers ~70% of the country's deaths (non-geolocatable ones are excluded), so it slightly underestimates the total. Pedestrian collision is the leading cause of pedestrian death.