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Escudo de María Elena

María Elena

AntofagastaFounded 19206.507 inhabitantsPoblación proyectada INE 202412.348 km² of area1 inh./km²$10.100M ingreso municipalSINIM · ingreso total percibido · 2025
Profile today2050
The comuna in context · among 346 comunas
Economy
4.792/1,000 inhab.
3rd most promised jobs per inhabitant (one megaproject transforms it)
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Economy
31.182 jobs
3rd most jobs promised by investment projects
Explore
Society
-38%
5th that lost the most population (since 2002)
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Society
66%
7th lowest electoral turnout
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Education
93 km to the nearest campus
24th most isolated from higher education
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Finance
$2.075.197/inhab.
25th highest budget per inhabitant
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Population
−20,7%
Population would fall between now and 2050
Society
15,2%
Multidimensional poverty · 252nd highest of 346
Finance
$1,6 million
per inhabitant per year · rank 39 of 346
Safety
11.926
cases per 100k inhab. · 6th in the country
Economy
3.546
construction jobs · Investment in the pipeline would promise
Finance
292nd
most dependent on the Common Fund of 340
Summary

What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap

8 Squares and green areas
5 Schools
3 Kindergartens
2 Fire stations
2 Health centers
1 Hospitals
1 Carabineros

María Elena es un pueblo y comuna situada en la Región de Antofagasta, en la provincia de Tocopilla, en el Norte Grande de Chile. La capital de la comuna es María Elena. Integra junto con las comunas de Calama, Ollagüe, San Pedro de Atacama y Tocopilla el distrito electoral N.º 3 y pertenece a la 2.º circunscripción senatorial. Tiene una superficie de 12 197,2 km² y cuenta con una población de 6457 habitantes según el Censo del año 2017.

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

Liveability index · EIU style

53.7 /100
Ver el ranking y simular
#103 of 346 · most liveable in the country (EIU weighting)
Safety70
Health63
Culture and environment35
Education49
Infrastructure51
AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests

Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

Viviana Cuello R.
INDEPENDIENTE
1.704
votes (53.57%)
5.114
Electoral roll
65,66%
Turnout
Mayoral history · 7 terms
VC
Viviana Cuello R.
2024-2028 · INDEPENDIENTE
1.704
votes
OF
Omar Francisco Norambuena Rivera
2021-2024 · IND
1.056
votes
JF
Jorge Francisco Godoy Bolvaran
2008-2012 · PS
2.092
votes
SL
Santiago Lambert Escobar
2004-2008 · UDI
1.412
votes
SL
Santiago Lambert Escobar
2000-2004 · UDI
1.185
votes
SL
Santiago Lambert Escobar
1996-2000 · UDI
1.134
votes
MR
Manuel Rojas Molina
1992-1996 · UDI
3.227
votes

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

Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL

CG
Cristian Gallardo G.
CHILE VAMOS RENOVACIÓN NACIONAL - INDEPENDIENTES · RENOVACION NACIONAL
373
votes
CM
Carmen Miranda C.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · PARTIDO SOCIALISTA DE CHILE
350
votes
RP
Raul Puebla G.
PARTIDO DE LA GENTE E INDEPENDIENTES · PARTIDO DE LA GENTE
347
votes
MG
Miguel Guerrero G.
CHILE VAMOS UDI-EVOPOLI E INDEPENDIENTES · INDEPENDIENTE
236
votes
LC
Luis Castro C.
CHILE VAMOS RENOVACIÓN NACIONAL - INDEPENDIENTES · RENOVACION NACIONAL
165
votes
CZ
Carmen Zamora A.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · INDEPENDIENTE
154
votes

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

87 minutes publishedindex updated on 21-07-2026Municipal transparency
Recent minutes indexed

Documents indexed from the Transparency Portal (Law 20.285); they link to the PDF published by the municipality.

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

Resolutions extracted
106
of 51 minutes read
Money involved
$18.192.583.362
sum of resolutions with amounts
ResolutionTypeAmountVote
3 · Solicitud de aprobación de entrega de subvenciones municipales año 2026Subsidy$1.000.000
2 · Aprobación del cumplimiento del Programa de Mejoramiento de la Gestión (PMG) año 2025Otherunanimidad
Aprobación de actas anterioresOthermayoria
4.4 · Constancia que en todo lo demás se mantienen plenamente vigentes las disposiciones del Convenio de Colaboración original y su adendum anterior.Regulationunanimidad
4.3 · Dispone que la Municipalidad otorgará financiamiento para permitir la contratación pública del servicio de transporte escolar correspondiente al mes de marzo de 2026.Budget amendmentunanimidad
4.2 · Establecen que la colaboración con el servicio de agua potable para la Escuela Ignacio Carrera Pinto de Quillagua se extenderá hasta marzo del presente año.Regulationunanimidad

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
205
Highly complex
50
Audit reports
0
YearFindingsAltam.Compl.Median.Reports
20226314022
20185933242
20164643010
20153712915

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

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

  • S
    Statkraft
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2021–2022
  • EE
    Engie Energía Chile S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2019
  • PS
    Parque Solar Fotovoltaico Sol del Desierto SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2019–2020
  • MA
    Minera Antucoya
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2018–2019
  • FC
    Fundación Coaniquen
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2023
  • HS
    Hobe SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2019
  • AM
    Andes Mainstream SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2020
  • IC
    Instituto Chileno Norteamericano de Cultura
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2019
  • AE
    Astra Exploration Chile SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2022
  • AL
    A&a Ltda.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2020
  • CA
    Cumplimiento Ambiental SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2022
  • Sd
    Sol del Loa S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2019
  • IS
    Interchile S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2021
  • UT
    Universidad Tecnológica de Chile
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2018
  • OS
    Octano SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2019
  • A&
    A & C Ingeniería y Construcción SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2020
  • GC
    Greenvironment Chile
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2020
  • EM
    Embajada Mundial de Activistas por la Paz Corp.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2019
  • GS
    Grupo Shavuot S.s.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2021
  • FD
    Fundación Dream Here Sueña Aquí
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2021
and 6 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

10.335
inhabitants
6.429
inhabitants
20022025

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

See the full trajectory to 2050
Since 2002
-38%
inhabitants
Estimated population 2050
5.042
-15% vs. 2035 (5.953)
Over 60 · 2050
20,88%
15,96% 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)95,81 %CENSO 2017 2017
School disengagement (leaves the system)2 %MINEDUC 2023
School enrollment59 studentsMINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
Municipal enrollment100 %MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
PAES reading comprehension (DEMRE)564,9 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
PAES mathematics M1 (DEMRE)574,2 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
poblacion_censo4.834 inh.2024 Census 2024
Income poverty (CASEN 2022)5,6 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022)15,2 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Indigenous peoples13,22 %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 47 students registered for the PAES.

Registro Social de Hogares

People in the RSH
4.727
2.746 households
Households in the most vulnerable 40%
1.029
37% of RSH households
Female-headed households
50%
1.361
Elderly (60+)79717%
Children and adolescents (<18)1.09423%
Foreign nationals69215%
Belonging to indigenous peoples3177%
People with moderate/severe dependency541%
Single-person households1.56157%

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
994
3 schools
Students per teacher
12,4
80 teachers
national median: 10,15
Average attendance
90,4%
national median: 89,8%
Priority studentsSEP
50,4%
socioeconomic vulnerability
national median: 66,8%
Where they study · by provider
Public (municipal + SLEP) 100%Private subsidized 0%
Pass rate
98,4%
national median: 98,2%
Dropoutschool withdrawal
1,29%
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

CESFAM
1
Clinics
0
Rural health posts
1
FONASA enrollees
85
1% of the population
Doctors employed
4
Health staff by contract type
Permanent staff: 21Contract staff: 19Fee contracts: 4
Primary-care medical visits · per year
7.245
15.931
20102025
Comprehensive home visits · per year
126
53
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.

Comuna's primary-care centers · FONASA 2025 enrollees (86 in total)
CenterTypeProvider typeEnrollees% brackets A-B
Consultorio María ElenaFamily Health Center (CESFAM)Municipal7835%
Posta de Salud Rural Quillagua (María Elena)Rural Health Post (PSR)Municipal825%

FONASA brackets A-B ≈ lowest incomes (A: without resources). Source: FONASA, as of Dec 31, 2025, DEIS code.

Costs · 2025
Health spending accrued: $1.148.069.000 ($13.506.694/enrollee)MINSAL per capita: $606.002.000Municipal contribution: $454.194.000

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

Indigenous population
639
13.2% of the census population (Census 2024)
Indigenous communities
1
RNAI CONADI registry · Mar 2024
PeoplePeople% of total
Aymara29145.5%
Mapuche13721.4%
Diaguita8613.5%
Quechua6810.6%

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.

Community organizationSource: RPJSFL Civil Registry (Law 20.500/19.418) · as of Jun 2026

Active neighborhood councils
2
Councils per 1,000 inhabitants
0.3
density of territorial organization
Non-profit organizations
31
the entire active civil fabric
Committees (water, housing, progress)
5
For the elderly
4
Sports
3
Cultural
2
Social and aid
1
Foundations and corporations
1

All the comuna's active non-profit legal entities (Law 20.500 / 19.418), classified by organization name. It portrays the civil fabric: not just neighborhood councils, also committees, sports clubs, cultural and elderly groups, foundations and fire brigades.

2 Local media · FMSource: SUBTEL · broadcasting licences · Regional Media Survey (MSGG)

Local mediaTypedial
SRSoc. Radiodifusora Cerro Grande Ltda. · holderFM105.9 FM
SISqm Industrial S.A. · holderFM92.5 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
770
15,9% of the census population (Census 2024)
Main origin
Bolivia
548 people · 71% of the foreigners
Main countries of origin
548 Bolivia
108 Colombia
54 Perú
31 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

Encampments
0
no encampments registered
Housing deficit
281
17,2% of the comuna's households
Subsidies Integrated System · DS01
2
paid · 2016–2025
Subsidies Solidarity Fund · DS49
4
beneficiaries · 2013–2023
Subsidies Rental · DS52
0
paid · 2015–2022

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

3.449homes · by type (2017)
House
1.798 · 96.4%
House
1.543 · 97.4%
Other private
34 · 2.1%
Other private
30 · 1.6%
Room in old house/tenement
25 · 1.3%
Shack/hut/shanty
7 · 0.4%
Shack/improvised dwelling
3 · 0.2%
Apartment
3 · 0.2%
Room in old house/tenement
2 · 0.1%
Apartment
1 · 0.1%
Mobile
1 · 0.1%
Indigenous dwelling
1 · 0.1%
Mobile
1 · 0.1%
4%owner-occupied · tenure (2002)
Provided for work
1.609 · 78.2%
Rented
262 · 12.7%
Free of charge
99 · 4.8%
Owned outright
84 · 4.1%
Owned, being paid off
3 · 0.1%

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
Litio Salar de Atacama — acuerdo Codelco–SQMmunicipality and community
Asociación 50/50 (Minera Tárar + SQM Salar), 31-may-2024

Asociación para el litio 2025–2060 que reconoce 18 comunidades del Consejo de Pueblos Atacameños. Aportes municipales como % de ventas (sin tope): San Pedro de Atacama 0,2%, Antofagasta 0,1%, María Elena 0,1%, GORE 1,17%. CORFO proyecta hasta ~US$150 M/año a comunidades. Tomado de razón por Contraloría dic-2025.

% de ventas al municipio + hasta ~US$150 M/año a comunidades· 2025–2060Source
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 35% (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: 35% 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.

35% 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
$10.099.875.000
Own revenue
$4.764.909.000
47% of the total
Municipal Common Fund
$2.913.464.000
29% of the total
State transfers
$3.130.540.000
31% of the total
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios

Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)

$791.077.000
$10.099.875.000
20012025

Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025

22.1%
37.4%
36.6%
Property tax$1.055.069.000
Business licenses$1.781.631.000
Vehicle permits$184.874.000
Other own revenue$1.743.335.000
Special-law revenues · 2025
Mining licenses (Law 19.143): $1.168.959.000

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

Revenue by sector · 2025
66.6%
25.6%
7.8%
Municipal$10.099.875.000
Education$3.880.509.000
Health$1.187.524.000
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Net recipient: it receives $2.596.322.000 more than it contributes.
Evolución por fuente de ingreso

Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend

$330.076.000
$4.764.909.000
20012025

FCM received · trend

$193.226.000
$2.913.464.000
20012025

State transfers · trend

$176.433.000
$3.130.540.000
20012025

Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Current budget · 2025
$24.309.903.000
Accrued spending · 2025
$8.371.387.000
Execution rate
34.4%
Unexecuted: $15.938.516.000
Low execution: it only executed 34.4% of the budget — $15.938.516.000 unspent.

Accrued spending · trend

$798.331.000
$8.371.387.000
20012025

Distribution by management area · 2025

48.5%
43.5%
Internal management$4.058.764.000
Community services$3.644.908.000
Social programs$223.244.000
Municipal activities$401.080.000
Recreational programs$669.000
Cultural programs$42.722.000

What the budget is spent on · 2025

Spending lineAmount% of spending
Investment (works and projects)$2.219.966.00026.5%
Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees$2.158.840.00025.8%
Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance$1.246.259.00014.9%
Municipal healthcare (primary care) · comuna health-sector spending$1.148.069.00013.7%
Transfers to health$454.194.0005.4%
Councillor stipends$82.878.0001.0%
Travel allowances$47.004.0000.6%
Cleaning, garbage and landfills · waste collection and disposal$20.200.0000.2%
Commissions and representation$587.0000.0%

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

25.8%
14.9%
59.3%
Personnel (Subt. 21)$2.158.840.000
Goods and services (Subt. 22)$1.246.259.000
Others$4.966.288.000

Personnel by contract type · 2025

39.2%
21.7%
13.1%
10.6%
15.4%
Permanent staff$1.143.183.000
Contract staff$633.420.000
Fee contracts$382.237.000
Labor Code$310.270.000
Community progs.$448.114.000

Municipal headcount · 2023

18.8%
14.1%
67.0%
Permanent staff36
Contract staff27
Fee contracts128
Total: 191 staffFee contracts: 67.0% of the headcountWomen: 60.3%Professionalization: 33.3%
Cost/staffer permanent: $30.841.167/yearCost/staffer contract: $20.190.407/yearCost/staffer fees: $683.039/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: $2.219.966.000 (26.5% of spending)Councillor stipends: $82.878.000Travel allowances: $47.004.000Commissions and representation: $587.000

Basic and general services · 2025

Garbage and landfills: $20.200.000

Final works approvals (DOM) · per year

0
0
20012025

Building permits issued · per year

2
0
20122025

What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data

Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público
Historic amount
$53.474.977.371
Purchase orders
19.579

Purchase-order amount · trend

$653.938.013
$4.321.771.193
20072026
Top suppliersAmountPOs
German$4.469.131.82343
Comercializadora F & M Ltda.$1.897.677.721105
Contratista Obras Menores$1.720.557.66620
Empresa Constructora Tocopilla Limitada$1.682.188.0691
Telefonica Empresas Chile S.A.$1.387.646.1489
Copec S.A.$1.225.360.852214
Compania de Petroleos de Chile Copec S.A.$980.039.321327
Sava Construcciones Limitada$927.349.0454

Purchase mechanism · 2026

Tender $3.454.124.26380%
Agile Purchase $555.844.82513%
Framework Agreement $275.444.6506%
Direct award discretionary$36.357.4571%

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

Registered companies
256
domiciled in the comuna
Dependent workers
1.366

Pyramid by sales bracket

58.6%
20.3%
18.0%
Micro (≤2,400 UF)150 companies
Small (≤25k UF)52 companies
Medium (≤100k UF)6 companies
Large (>100k UF)2 companies
No sales/no info46 companies

Largest companies domiciled in the comuna

CompanyLine of businessSales bracketWorkers
Edelnor Transmision S.A.SUMINISTRO DE ELECTRICIDAD, GAS, VAPOR Y AIRELarge 2
Transdal SpATRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTOMedium 132
Mister Cappelen SpAACTIVIDADES DE ALOJAMIENTO Y DE SERVICIO DE CMedium 129
Minimarket Elena Isabel Espinoza Fica E.I.R.L.COMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACMedium 1
Construcción y Montaje Silva & Torres LimitadaACTIVIDADES DE SERVICIOS ADMINISTRATIVOS Y DESmall 368
Morales y Compañía LimitadaINDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERASmall 355
I Municipalidad de Maria Elena Comunal DADMINISTRACION PUBLICA Y DEFENSA; PLANES DE SNo sales337
I Municipalidad de Maria ElenaADMINISTRACION PUBLICA Y DEFENSA; PLANES DE SNo sales75

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
7
US$ 3.041 M declared
Approved last 5 years
16
US$ 1.576 M declared
Construction jobsunder review
3.546
+ 2.211 in operations
Construction jobsapproved 5 yrs
4.540
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 de Infraestructura y Mejoramiento de Capacidad Productiva dEIACompañía Minera Doña Inés de CollahUnder Review3.2004.500
Línea de Transmisión Eléctrica HVDC Kimal - Lo AguirreEIAConexión Kimal Lo Aguirre S.A.Approved1.4809.535
Proyecto Minero TovakuEIASociedad Punta del Cobre S.A.Under Review870984
Parque Fotovoltaico Elena 2DIAGr Cabo de Hornos SpAUnder Review577400
Parque Fotovoltaico Pauna SolarDIAPauna Solar SpAApproved4961.050
Optimización Planta Solar Sol del LoaDIASol del Loa SpAApproved4802.300
Sistema de Almacenamiento de Energía Águila MoraDIAAguila Mora SpAApproved336150
Modificación de las Instalaciones productivas y transporte de nitratosDIASqm Industrial S.A.Approved250120
ERNC TarapacáEIAErnc Loa SpAApproved200200
EIA Nueva S/E seccionadora Nva Lagunas y nueva Linea 2x500 kV Nueva LaEIAInterconexiones del Norte S.A.Approved1951.227
Modificación Proyecto Minero QB2: Transporte terrestre de concentradoDIACompañia Minera Teck Quebrada BlancUnder Review141184

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
220 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.

2monitoring stations· measures MP10· stations: Hospital, Iglesia
Air emissions from industrial sources · tons/year (RETC 2020)
4 t MP10
4 t MP2,5
1 t Material particulado
0 t SO₂

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.

153
Species
53
Flora
96
Fauna
4
Funga
72
In conservation status
39
Endemic to Chile
Species in conservation category
Belloto del norte, belloto (genérico)Beilschmiedia miersiiVUQueuleGomortega keuleENRuilNothofagus alessandriiENPitaoPitavia punctataENBelloto del surBeilschmiedia berteroanaENDragón de stolzmann, lagartija de stolzmannLiolaemus stolzmanniVUCentris tamarugalisVULagartija de paulinaLiolaemus paulinaeVUSapoTelmatobius fronteriensisCRDragón de oído cubiertoLiolaemus audituvelatusVUSapoTelmatobius halliCRBagrecitoTrichomycterus rivulatusENLagartija de eleodoroLiolaemus rosenmanniVUSapoTelmatobius chusmisensisCRLagarto gruñidor de álvaroPristidactylus alvaroiCREscorpión de philippiBrachistosternus philippiiCRSapo de dankoTelmatobius dankoiCRRana de vilamaTelmatobius vilamensisCRPalma chilena, palmera chilena, palmera de coquitos, palma de miel, palma de vino de chile, can – canJubaea chilensisENGuayacánPorlieria chilensisVUAñañucaPhycella scarlatinaVUSapo de ruloRhinella aruncoVUSandillón, asiento de la suegraEriosyce aurataVUChinchilla costinaChinchilla lanigeraENLagartija de patricia iturraLIolaemus patriciaiturraeVUGaviota garumaLeucophaeus modestusVUZorro colorado, zorro culpeo, zorro coloradode tierra del fuego, zorro culpeo de tierra del fuegoLycalopex culpaeusVUAraucaria, pehuén, piñonero, pino piñonero, pino chileno, pino araucaria, pewen, guiliuAraucaria araucanaENGuanacoLama guanicoeVUGolondrina de mar de collar, ringed storm petrel (inglés)Hydrobates hornbyiVUGolondrina de mar negra, markham’s storm-petrelHydrobates markhamiENAlerceFitzroya cupressoidesENPingüino de humboldt, pingüino, pájaro niño, patranka, humboldt penguin (inglés), peruvian penguin (inglés)Spheniscus humboldtiENComesebo de los tamarugalesConirostrum tamarugenseENVicuñaVicugna vicugnaVUGüiñaLeopardus guignaVUGolondrina de mar peruana, wedge-rumped storm petrel (inglés)Hydrobates tethysVUFlamenco andino, parina grandePhoenicoparrus andinusVUParina chicaPhoenicoparrus jamesiVUGato montés andinoLeopardus jacobitaENGaviotín chicoSternula lorataENCamarón de río del norteCryphiops caementariusVUÑandúRhea pennataENLiquen (genérico)Acarospora schleicheriENCanelo, boique, voigue, fuñe, choólDrimys winteriENTarucaHippocamelus antisensisENChungungo, nutria marina, gato de mar, chinchiménLontra felinaENChinchilla cordilleranaChinchilla chinchillaCRPiuquén, piquén, guayataChloephaga melanopteraENTricahueCyanoliseus patagonusENDragón de torres-muraLiolaemus torresiNTLagartija de cuello liso de hajekLiolaemus hajekiNTIguanaCallopistes maculatusNTCarbonillo, mendozaCordia decandraNTJagartija de velosoLiolaemus velosoiNTMurciélago gris, murciélago de atacama, murciélago orejas de ratón del norteMyotis atacamensisNTCóndorVultur gryphusNTPumaPuma concolorNTColo-coloLeopardus colocoloNTPilpilén, pilpilén común, american oystercatcher (inglés)Haematopus palliatusNT
and 12 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.

2 Wetlands · 2 urban · 2.451 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)

CodeWetlandHectares
HUR-02-01Sist. Rio Loa- Rio San Salvadorurban2.291 /5.958
HUR-02-05Des. Rio Loaurban160 /699

Area = hectares of wetland within the comuna boundary (apportioned using the DPA table of each record). For wetlands shared between comunas, "portion / total" is shown. "Urban" = urban wetland (HUR code). Official source migrated to the SBAP (Law 21,600).

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. 112 projects totaling US$ 28.046 million, approved between 1997 and 2026. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.

Energy73 projects · US$ 21.397 M · 1997–2026
Ibereólica Solar Atacama S.A.Planta Termosolar María Elena · Planta Termosolar Pedro de Valdivia
Mining16 projects · US$ 5.329 M · 1998–2025
Codelco Chile, División Radomiro TomicRT Sulfuros · Desarrollo Minera Centinela
Others15 projects · US$ 613 M · 2011–2020
Codelco Chile, División Radomiro TomicAdecuación Planta Desaladora RT Súlfuros · Transporte de Ácido Sulfúrico Antucoya
Miscellaneous industrial facilities7 projects · US$ 440 M · 2000–2013
Sqm Industrial S.A.Planta de Nitrato de Potasio (NPT4), Coya Sur · Nueva Planta de Nitrato de Potasio Coya Sur (e-seia)
Environmental Sanitation1 project · US$ 267 M · 2017
Caitan SpAPlanta desalinizadora y suministro de agua industrial

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

Higher education
No campus · nearest in Calama at 92.7 km

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

Final SMA sanctions

Final sanctions
1
Sanctioned entities
1
companies, individuals and institutions
Sanctioned entityAuditable unitCategoryFine (UTA)
Transportes Tamarugal LimitadaTRANSPORTE PELIGROSOS ANTUCOYA - TAMARUGALTransport and warehousing

Environmental sanctions final from the SMA (no pending appeals) whose auditable unit sits in the comuna: companies, individuals and institutions (including the municipality). Fine in UTA (Annual Tax Unit). Source: Public Sanctions Registry, SNIFA.

Appeals before the Environmental Courts

Appeals
3
on projects in the comuna
Upheld
1
the court sided with the claimant
Case no.Parties / projectSubjectDecision
R-430-2023
2TA
Asociación Indígena Wilamasi De Pescadores Mamq´Uta, Caleta De Chanavaya y otro en contra del Comité de Ministros del Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Desarrollo de Infraestructura y Mejoramiento de Capacidad Productiva de Collahuasi
Due consideration of citizen observationsUpheld
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
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 (2025)

Green space per capita
2 m²
20% 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
13
Historic monuments
11
Heritage zones
2

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)

Where this comuna's waste goes
Relleno Sanitario Quebrada Ancha (Tocopilla) · 2.215 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
3
At high or very high risk
3
Main threat
Inundación por desborde de c…
Inundación por desborde de cauce

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
15,91°C
2035-2065 projection: +1,83°C
Annual precipitation
7 mm
projection: +600%
Hot days>30°C
77
projection: +70 days
Frost days
29

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
776
all crimes
Rate per 100,000 inhab.
11.926
Police cases · trend
445
776
20102025
By crime type · 2025
CrimeCasesRate/100k
Alcohol and drug use in public spaces3385.194
Burglary of an uninhabited place721.107
Threats661.014
Domestic violence57876
Larceny45692
Property damage42646
Minor injuries32492
Other burglaries (forcible entry)20307
Attempted robbery17261
Motor vehicle theft16246
Robbery with violence or intimidation14215
Burglary of an inhabited place10154

Showing the 12 crimes with most cases of 25.

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
6
Guards and inspectors
0
1 per 6.507 hab
Patrol fleet
3
cars, pickups, motorcycles, bikes
Patrol fleet by type
Pickups: 3Drones: 2
Surveillance cameras · trend
0
6
20202025

Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)

Crashes · 2024
31
Deaths
5
76,8 per 100,000 inhab.
Injured
59
9 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.