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Escudo de Caldera

Caldera

AtacamaFounded 185019.964 inhabitantsPoblación proyectada INE 20243.699 km² of area5 inh./km²$18.745M ingreso municipalSINIM · ingreso total percibido · 2025
Profile today2050
The comuna in context · among 346 comunas
Education
96 km to the nearest campus
22nd most isolated from higher education
Explore
Finance
+1.626%
30th fastest-growing municipal budget (since 2001)
Explore
Population
+0,4%
Population would grow between now and 2050
Society
19,7%
Multidimensional poverty · 137th highest of 346
Finance
$939 thousand
per inhabitant per year · rank 79 of 346
Finance
76,47%
It depends on the Common Fund: almost no own revenue
Safety
8.686
cases per 100k inhab. · 25th in the country
Education
556,8 pts
below the national median in the PAES (576,9 pts)
Finance
127th
most dependent on the Common Fund of 340
Summary

What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap

33 Squares and green areas
12 Schools
6 Kindergartens
4 Health centers
4 Pharmacies
2 Carabineros
1 Fire stations

Caldera es una ciudad y comuna del Norte Chico de Chile, perteneciente a la Provincia de Copiapó, en la Región de Atacama. Es puerto minero, pesquero y agrícola, ubicado a 75 kilómetros de la ciudad de Copiapó. Además Caldera está situada en una zona de interés turístico.

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

Liveability index · EIU style

49.4 /100
Ver el ranking y simular
#161 of 346 · most liveable in the country (EIU weighting)
Safety45
Health48
Culture and environment68
Education16
Infrastructure51
AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests

Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

Brunilda González A.Re-elected
CONTIGO CHILE MEJOR · PARTIDO POR LA DEMOCRACIA
5.823
votes (44.72%)
16.260
Electoral roll
85,33%
Turnout
Mayoral history · 7 terms
BG
Brunilda González A.
2024-2028 · PARTIDO POR LA DEMOCRACIA
5.823
votes
BC
Brunilda Clementina Gonzalez Anjel
2021-2024 · PPD
3.805
votes
BG
Brunilda González Anjel
2008-2012 · PPD
3.468
votes
BG
Brunilda González Anjel
2004-2008 · IND
3.850
votes
EB
Emilio Bianchi Falchi
2000-2004 · RN
2.027
votes
EB
Emilio Bianchi Falchi
1996-2000 · RN
1.595
votes
FC
Freddy Campusano Olmos
1992-1996 · PS
564
votes

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

Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL

NM
Natalia Muñoz T.
TU COMUNA RADICAL · INDEPENDIENTE
946
votes
ZS
Zarko Sepulveda M.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · PARTIDO POR LA DEMOCRACIA
900
votes
CA
Claudio Alvarez R.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · PARTIDO SOCIALISTA DE CHILE
714
votes
JG
Jason Gaete A.
CHILE VAMOS RENOVACIÓN NACIONAL - INDEPENDIENTES · INDEPENDIENTE
642
votes
NP
Natan Pereira V.
CHILE VAMOS UDI-EVOPOLI E INDEPENDIENTES · INDEPENDIENTE
607
votes
LB
Lisa Barriga A.
IZQUIERDA ECOLOGISTA POPULAR · POPULAR
374
votes

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

635 minutes publishedindex updated on 12-08-2026Municipal transparency

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

Resolutions extracted
545
of 462 minutes read
Money involved
$20.613.446.138
sum of resolutions with amounts
ResolutionTypeAmountVote
4.10 · Aprobar modificación presupuestaria de la Ilustre Municipalidad de Caldera por mayores ingresos.Budget amendmentunanimidad
4.9 · Aprobar modificación presupuestaria del Departamento de Educación por mayores ingresos.Budget amendmentunanimidad
4.8 · Aprobar modificación presupuestaria del Departamento de Salud Municipal por mayores ingresos.Budget amendmentunanimidad
4.7 · Aprobar bases técnicas y administrativas de la licitación pública del recambio de luminarias a LED.Tenderunanimidad
4.6 · Aprobar cambio de Alumbrado Público de la Comuna de Caldera al sistema LED por licitación pública, a través de concesión por diez años.Tenderunanimidad
4.5 · Aprobar propuesta por SECPLAN para proyectos de Normalización, Señalización y Demarcación Vial; Reposición Señalización de Tránsito; Pavimentación Terminal Transporte Público Plaza Las Américas; Mejoramiento Demarcación Eje Central de Calles.Budget amendmentunanimidad

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
180
Highly complex
33
Audit reports
0
YearFindingsAltam.Compl.Median.Reports
2023211
202121120
2019454433
2018296517
20164711304
20153610205

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

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

  • Ld
    Luz de Atacama
    Lobby / interest management · 10 audiencias · 2015–2016
  • PC
    Puerto Caldera S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 9 audiencias · 2023–2026
  • m
    Mardecal
    Lobby / interest management · 5 audiencias · 2022–2025
  • CD
    Compania de Petroleos de Chile Copec S a
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2020–2024
  • BS
    Buk SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2022–2024
  • CS
    Corporacion Sistema Colectivo de Gestion de Envases y Embalajes Resimple
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2024
  • SR
    Sociedad Rocas de Rodillo SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2022–2023
  • KM
    Kinross Minera Chile
    Lobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2026
  • W
    Wom
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2021–2026
  • TG
    Terminal Gas Caldera
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2022–2024
  • CA
    Consultora Ambiente Esencial
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2023–2025
  • Of
    Organización Funcional Comunidad Alto Bahía
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2023–2024
  • SP
    Servicios Profesionales Atacama Ltda.
    Lobby / interest management · 3 audiencias · 2023–2025
  • CV
    Condominio Villa las Palmas de Bahía
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2022
  • AG
    APS Gestión SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2021–2025
  • CG
    Compañía General de Electricidad S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2023–2026
  • RH
    Rodrigo Hermosilla y Cía Ltda.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2025
  • RS
    Rendic S.a. Unimarc
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2023–2024
  • EE
    Empresa Editora Zig-Zag
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2024–2026
  • LL
    Los Llanos S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2019–2023
and 74 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

13.801
inhabitants
20.057
inhabitants
20022025

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

See the full trajectory to 2050
Since 2002
+46%
inhabitants
Estimated population 2050
20.220
-2% vs. 2035 (20.535)
Over 60 · 2050
30,48%
23,95% in 2035 · +7 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)85,52 %CENSO 2017 2017
School disengagement (leaves the system)1,4 %MINEDUC 2023
School enrollment195 studentsMINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
Municipal enrollment33,3 %MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
PAES reading comprehension (DEMRE)556,8 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
PAES mathematics M1 (DEMRE)568,7 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
poblacion_censo18.805 inh.2024 Census 2024
Income poverty (CASEN 2022)4,1 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022)19,7 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Indigenous peoples28,73 %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 258 students registered for the PAES.

Registro Social de Hogares

People in the RSH
22.255
12.693 households
Households in the most vulnerable 40%
6.975
55% of RSH households
Female-headed households
51%
6.419
Elderly (60+)4.68621%
Children and adolescents (<18)4.92522%
Foreign nationals1.0855%
Belonging to indigenous peoples2.69312%
People with moderate/severe dependency3622%
Single-person households7.15856%

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
4.085
10 schools
Students per teacher
13,8
295 teachers
national median: 10,15
Average attendance
82,5%
national median: 89,8%
Priority studentsSEP
71,9%
socioeconomic vulnerability
national median: 66,8%
Where they study · by provider
Public (municipal + SLEP) 52%Private subsidized 48%
Pass rate
97,4%
national median: 98,2%
Dropoutschool withdrawal
2,64%
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
1
Rural health posts
0
FONASA enrollees
20.766
104% of the population
Doctors employed
4
Health staff by contract type
Permanent staff: 120Contract staff: 52Fee contracts: 22
Primary-care medical visits · per year
10.677
57.225
20102025
Comprehensive home visits · per year
1.197
2.142
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 (20.726 in total)
CenterTypeProvider typeEnrollees% brackets A-B
Centro de Salud Familiar Rosario CorvalánFamily Health Center (CESFAM)Municipal19.68655%
Centro Comunitario de Salud Familiar Orfelia LavínCommunity Family Health Center (CECOSF)Municipal1.03962%
Sapu-Rosario CorvalánHigh-Resolution Emergency Primary Care Service (SAR)Municipal10%

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

Costs · 2025
Health spending accrued: $7.892.721.000 ($380.079/enrollee)MINSAL per capita: $3.280.666.000Municipal contribution: $830.000.000

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

Indigenous population
5.403
28.7% of the census population (Census 2024)
Indigenous communities
16
RNAI CONADI registry · Mar 2024
PeoplePeople% of total
Diaguita2.31642.9%
Chango1.00018.5%
Colla92917.2%
Mapuche86316.0%
Aymara1562.9%
Atacameño o Lickanantay521.0%

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.

16 Local media · 3 Comunitaria · 13 FMSource: SUBTEL · broadcasting licences · Regional Media Survey (MSGG)

Local mediaTypedial
AAMANECERComunitaria107.9 FM
BBAHIAFM99.7 FM
CFCANDY FMFM92.7 FM
NMNUEVO MUNDOFM96.1 FM
NSNUEVO SOLFM90.1 FM
SSANTUARIOFM91.1 FM
TTAMARUGALFM97.5 FM
TFTROPIKALISIMA FMFM93.7 FM
AFAgrupacion Folclorica Cantares del Mar · holderComunitaria107.3 FM
CdComunidad de Amigos Nuevo Renacer · holderComunitaria107.1 FM
EREmpresa Radiodifusion y Diseño Caldera SpA · holderFM99.3 FM
MAMiguel Angel Veliz Araya Comunicaciones E.I.R.L. · holderFM89.1 FM
RBRadio Barquito Ltda. · holderFM94.9 FM
RCRadiodifusora Castel Fm SpA · holderFM101.3 FM
SRSoc. Radio Difusora la Familia Cg SpA · holderFM98.3 FM
WCWilver Comunicaciones Ltda. · holderFM94.3 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
1.114
5,9% of the census population (Census 2024)
Main origin
Venezuela
365 people · 33% of the foreigners
Main countries of origin
365 Venezuela
227 Colombia
133 Perú
128 Bolivia

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
478
6,9% of the comuna's households
Housing permits · 2024
367
25.487 m² · new construction
Subsidies Integrated System · DS01
113
paid · 2011–2025
Subsidies Solidarity Fund · DS49
886
beneficiaries · 2012–2025
Subsidies Rental · DS52
27
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

22.387homes · by type (2017)
House
12.730 · 81.5%
House
6.657 · 98.3%
Shack/hut/shanty
2.483 · 15.9%
Other private
149 · 1%
Room in old house/tenement
95 · 0.6%
Apartment
71 · 0.5%
Mobile
68 · 0.4%
Apartment
58 · 0.9%
Shack/improvised dwelling
25 · 0.4%
Other private
24 · 0.4%
Indigenous dwelling
16 · 0.1%
Room in old house/tenement
6 · 0.1%
Mobile
3 · 0%
Traditional/indigenous dwelling
2 · 0%
67%owner-occupied · tenure (2002)
Owned outright
1.859 · 50.2%
Rented
725 · 19.6%
Owned, being paid off
628 · 17%
Free of charge
287 · 7.7%
Provided for work
206 · 5.6%

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
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 25% (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: 25% 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.

25% 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
$18.745.024.000
Own revenue
$3.420.604.000
18% of the total
Municipal Common Fund
$11.117.621.000
59% of the total
State transfers
$2.489.680.000
13% of the total
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios

Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)

$1.086.233.000
$18.745.024.000
20012025

Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025

23.3%
15.4%
17.6%
13.2%
30.4%
Property tax$797.607.000
Business licenses$527.569.000
Vehicle permits$603.539.000
Cleaning fees$452.068.000
Other own revenue$1.039.821.000
Special-law revenues · 2025
Mining licenses (Law 19.143): $118.141.000Aquaculture licenses (Law 20.033): $75.780.000

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

Revenue by sector · 2025
70.0%
28.8%
Municipal$18.745.024.000
Education$322.334.000
Health$7.714.525.000
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Net recipient: it receives $10.105.677.000 more than it contributes.
Evolución por fuente de ingreso

Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend

$261.118.000
$3.420.604.000
20012025

FCM received · trend

$547.712.000
$11.117.621.000
20012025

State transfers · trend

$13.076.000
$2.489.680.000
20012025

Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Current budget · 2025
$21.196.698.000
Accrued spending · 2025
$18.900.985.000
Execution rate
89.2%
Unexecuted: $2.295.713.000
Medium execution: it executed 89.2%. Left unspent: $2.295.713.000.

Accrued spending · trend

$1.335.400.000
$18.900.985.000
20012025

Distribution by management area · 2025

46.7%
43.1%
Internal management$8.826.708.000
Community services$8.140.311.000
Social programs$1.077.844.000
Municipal activities$388.195.000
Cultural programs$467.927.000

What the budget is spent on · 2025

Spending lineAmount% of spending
Municipal healthcare (primary care) · comuna health-sector spending$7.892.721.00041.8%
Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees$4.139.737.00021.9%
Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance$3.641.875.00019.3%
Investment (works and projects)$1.896.327.00010.0%
Transfers to health$830.000.0004.4%
Electricity (facilities)$597.528.0003.2%
Water (facilities)$362.922.0001.9%
Cleaning, garbage and landfills · waste collection and disposal$159.059.0000.8%
Councillor stipends$91.454.0000.5%
Travel allowances$44.144.0000.2%
Commissions and representation$9.961.0000.1%

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

21.9%
19.3%
58.8%
Personnel (Subt. 21)$4.139.737.000
Goods and services (Subt. 22)$3.641.875.000
Others$11.119.373.000

Personnel by contract type · 2025

29.3%
12.3%
54.8%
Permanent staff$2.768.046.000
Contract staff$1.160.501.000
Fee contracts$211.190.000
Labor Code$123.948.000
Community progs.$5.171.882.000

Municipal headcount · 2023

63.1%
36.9%
Permanent staff89
Contract staff52
Total: 141 staffWomen: 48.9%Professionalization: 68.8%
Cost/staffer permanent: $29.509.775/yearCost/staffer contract: $20.219.173/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: $1.896.327.000 (10.0% of spending)Councillor stipends: $91.454.000Travel allowances: $44.144.000Commissions and representation: $9.961.000

Basic and general services · 2025

Garbage and landfills: $159.059.000Electricity: $597.528.000Water: $362.922.000

Final works approvals (DOM) · per year

372
51
20012025

Building permits issued · per year

168
61
20122025

What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data

Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público
Historic amount
$75.460.024.545
Purchase orders
29.190

Purchase-order amount · trend

$1.293.343.950
$2.903.817.371
20072026
Top suppliersAmountPOs
Ledesma Hnos Ltda.$5.362.895.1285
Constructora del Chañar E.I.R.L$3.676.050.24869
Empresa Constructora Pedro Aviles R. y Cia. Ltda.$2.570.719.5641
Soc.constructora del Norte Sociedad Anonima$1.628.147.1385
Hector Camal$1.600.930.48173
Crecer SpA$1.466.595.0842
Ingenieria y Construcciones Vallmarv Ltda.$1.461.496.99031
Moeckel y Weil Ltda.$1.194.007.0002

Purchase mechanism · 2026

Tender $2.235.612.97577%
Agile Purchase $347.585.76312%
Framework Agreement $210.002.3767%
Direct award discretionary$110.616.2584%

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

Registered companies
1.570
domiciled in the comuna
Dependent workers
3.352

Pyramid by sales bracket

63.5%
15.5%
18.9%
Micro (≤2,400 UF)997 companies
Small (≤25k UF)244 companies
Medium (≤100k UF)27 companies
Large (>100k UF)6 companies
No sales/no info296 companies

Largest companies domiciled in the comuna

CompanyLine of businessSales bracketWorkers
Pesquera Bahia Caldera S.A.INDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERALarge 4 (>1M UF)170
Cleanairtech Sudamerica S.A.SUMINISTRO DE AGUA; EVACUACION DE AGUAS RESIDLarge 4 (>1M UF)31
Cultivos Marinos Horcon LimitadaCOMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACLarge 29
Pereira Rental y Servicios Industriales SpAACTIVIDADES PROFESIONALES, CIENTIFICAS Y TECNLarge 1271
Fundacion Educacional Colegio Parroquial Padre Negro de CalderaENSEÑANZALarge 1150
Agricola Maria Isabel SpAAGRICULTURA, GANADERIA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCALarge 128
Ingesub SpACONSTRUCCIONMedium 2120
Servicios Integrales y Operacionales Olivares SpACONSTRUCCIONMedium 2103
Servicios de Ingeniería, Asesorias y Construcción O&p LimitadaCONSTRUCCIONMedium 285
Bahía Grill SpAACTIVIDADES DE ALOJAMIENTO Y DE SERVICIO DE CMedium 259

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
0
US$ 0 M declared
Approved last 5 years
9
US$ 631 M declared
Construction jobsapproved 5 yrs
1.509
peak labor
ProjectOwnerStatusInvestment (US$M)Constr. jobs
Optimización y Continuidad Operacional Minera CandelariaEIACompañía Contractual Minera CandelaApproved6001.350
Copiaport-EEIACopiaport-E Operaciones Marítimas SApproved4501.587
Línea de Transmisión y Sistema BESS CáliceDIAGr Trapananda SpAApproved143,530
Prospección Minera Ternera Fase IIDIAEl Zorro S.c.mApproved40
Parque Fotovoltaico FénixDIAFenix Solar SpAApproved1275
Transporte terrestre de ácido sulfúrico entre la región de Arica y ParDIAAsociación Gremial de Dueños de CamApproved9,72
Calderaza SolarDIAManzano Solar SpAApproved980
Planta de Aceite de Oliva María IsabelDIASociedad Agrícola María Isabel LtdaApproved1,1
Nueva Línea 2x110 kV desde S/E Caldera a Línea 1x110 kV Cardones-PuntaDIAEmpresa Eléctrica Cordillera SpAApproved0,36880

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
115 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.

Air emissions from industrial sources · tons/year (RETC 2020)
1 t MP10
1 t MP2,5
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.

198
Species
76
Flora
103
Fauna
19
Funga
71
In conservation status
32
Endemic to Chile
Species in conservation category
QueuleGomortega keuleENBelloto del surBeilschmiedia berteroanaENRuilNothofagus alessandriiENBelloto del norte, belloto (genérico)Beilschmiedia miersiiVUPitaoPitavia punctataENSandillón, asiento de la suegraEriosyce aurataVULagartija de manuelLiolaemus manueliENLagartija de patricia iturraLIolaemus patriciaiturraeVULagartija de eleodoroLiolaemus rosenmanniVUChinchilla costinaChinchilla lanigeraENLagartija negro azulada, black bluish lizard (inglés)Liolaemus nigrocoeruleusENLagartija de ortiz, lagartija de juan carlos ortizLiolaemus juanortiziVULagartija de isabelLiolaemus isabelaeVUSapo de atacamaRhinella atacamensisVUChungungo, nutria marina, gato de mar, chinchiménLontra felinaENGuanacoLama guanicoeVUPingüino de humboldt, pingüino, pájaro niño, patranka, humboldt penguin (inglés), peruvian penguin (inglés)Spheniscus humboldtiENZorro 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 araucanaENDelfín naríz de botellaTursiops truncatusENAlerceFitzroya cupressoidesENYuncoPelecanoides garnotiiENTortuga verde, tortuga negraChelonia mydasENBallena jorobadaMegaptera novaeangliaeVUGaviota garumaLeucophaeus modestusVUTortuga oliváceaLepidochelys olivaceaVUBallena de aleta, rorcual comúnBalaenoptera physalusCRTuco-tuco mendocinoCtenomys mendocinusVUTortuga laúd, baulaDermochelys coriaceaCRTortuga boba, tortuga cabezonaCaretta carettaCRParina chicaPhoenicoparrus jamesiVUFlamenco andino, parina grandePhoenicoparrus andinusVUVicuñaVicugna vicugnaVUChinchilla cordilleranaChinchilla chinchillaCRPiuquén, piquén, guayataChloephaga melanopteraENBallena azulBalaenoptera musculusENGato montés andinoLeopardus jacobitaENCamarón de río del norteCryphiops caementariusVUCaitíRecurvirostra andinaVUBallena sei, rorcual bacalao, rorcual de rudolphiBalaenoptera borealisCRCachalotePhyseter macrocephalusVUPetrel gigante antártico, petrel gigante del surMacronectes giganteusVUZarapito de pico recto, aguja café, becasina de mar, hudsonian godwit (inglés)Limosa haemasticaVUIguanaCallopistes maculatusNTLagartija de manchaLiolaemus nigromaculatusNTCarbonillo, mendozaCordia decandraNTJagartija de velosoLiolaemus velosoiNTLiquenXanthopeltis rupicolaNTLagarto nítidoLiolaemus nitidusNT-Copiapoa coquimbanaNTLilePhalacrocorax gaimardiNTPelícano peruano, pelícano de humboldtPelecanus thagusNTGuanayPhalacrocorax bougainvilliiNTPilpilén, pilpilén común, american oystercatcher (inglés)Haematopus palliatusNTChorlo de campo, pachurrónOreopholus ruficollisNTGaviotín monjaLarosterna incaNTPumaPuma concolorNTMurciélago gris, murciélago de atacama, murciélago orejas de ratón del norteMyotis atacamensisNTSapito de cuatro ojosPleurodema thaulNTFlamenco chilenoPhoenicopterus chilensisNT
and 11 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 · 394 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)

CodeWetlandHectares
HUR-03-07Des. Rio Copiapourban238
HUR-03-03Rio Copiapourban156 /726

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. 45 projects totaling US$ 5.096 million, approved between 2002 and 2026. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.

Mining16 projects · US$ 3.124 M · 2006–2026
Norte Abierto SpAOPTIMIZACIÓN PROYECTO MINERO CERRO CASALE · Proyecto Santo Domingo
Port Infrastructure7 projects · US$ 854 M · 2005–2025
Copiaport-E Operaciones Marítimas SpACopiaport-E · Puerto Punta Caldera
Environmental Sanitation5 projects · US$ 543 M · 2010–2020
Agrodesal SpAProyecto Planta de Agua Potable Atacama · Planta Desalinizadora Minera Candelaria
Hydraulic Infrastructure1 project · US$ 245 M · 2018
Trends Industrial S.A.ENAPAC
Energy5 projects · US$ 194 M · 2011–2025
Gr Trapananda SpALínea de Transmisión y Sistema BESS Cálice · LTE Suministro Cerro Negro Norte y Desalinizadora Pta. Totoralillo
Others8 projects · US$ 76 M · 2004–2020
Sociedad Concesionaria Valles del Desierto S.A.Mejoramiento de la Ruta 5 Norte, Sector Copiapó - Caldera III Región Km. 824.100 - 888.800 Tramo 1 (e-seia) · Concentraducto Proyecto Hierro Atacama
Fishing and Aquaculture2 projects · US$ 35 M · 2010–2017
Acuicola del Norte S.A.Ampliación Piscicultura con recirculación de agua para Dorado II · Piscicultura con Recirculación de Agua para Dorado, Seriola lalandi, (e-seia)
Transport Infrastructure1 project · US$ 25 M · 2002
Sociedad Concesionaria Aeropuertos del Norte S.A.Nuevo Aeropuerto Regional de Atacama III 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 Chanar
Higher education
No campus · nearest in Copiapó at 96.3 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
5
Sanctioned entities
4
companies, individuals and institutions
Total fines
17 UTA
5 with fines
Sanctioned entityAuditable unitCategoryFine (UTA)
Jeniffer Arancibia SotoPUB ENTRE JOTESAmenities9
Domo Lounge SpARESTAURANT DOMOAmenities4
Jeniffer Arancibia SotoPUB ENTRE JOTESAmenities3
Entel Pcs Telecomunicaciones S.A.ANTENA ENTEL-CALDERAAmenities1
Servicios P&p LimitadaPUB COSTA NATIVAAmenities1

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
10
on projects in the comuna
Upheld
4
the court sided with the claimant
Case no.Parties / projectSubjectDecision
R-149-2026
1TA
Ilustre Municipalidad de Caldera con Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
CopiaPort-E
Environmental assessment - Citizen participationRejects
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-74-2022
1TA
ONG Atacama Limpia con Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente
Puerto Caldera
SMA compliance program — breach of the planUpheld
R-94-2023
1TA
Yasna Valdivia Clavijo y otros con Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente
Candelaria 2030 – Continuidad operacional
SMA compliance programRejects
4308-2021
2TA
Compañía Contractual Minera Candelaria en contra de la Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente
Proyecto Minero Candelaria
Environmental sanction proceedingUpheld
59791-2020
1TA
Roberto Ramírez Herrera y otros con Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
ENAPAC
Environmental assessment - Territorial compatibilityRejects
72108-2020
1TA
Ilustre Municipalidad de Caldera y otros con Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Andes LNG
Environmental Assessment - Citizen Participation - MunicipalitiesUpheld
R-37-2020
1TA
ONG Atacama Limpia con Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Acopio y embarque de concentrado de cobre en Muelle Punta Caleta de Puerto Caldera S.A
Environmental assessment - Citizen participationUpheld
R-131-2016
2TA
Frutícola y Exportadora Atacama Ltda. en contra del Comité de Ministros
Candelaria 2030 - Continuidad Operacional
Environmental assessment - Citizen participationRejects
R-72-2015
2TA
Compañía Minera Casale en contra del Director Ejecutivo del Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Optimización proyecto minero Cerro Casale
Environmental assessment - Citizen participationRejects

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
12 m²
above 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
4
Historic monuments
2
Nature sanctuaries
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)

Infrastructure this comuna carries — often serving others.

FacilityTypeDetail
Relleno Sanitario Cerro MontevideoRelleno Sanitario17.108 t/year
PTAS - CALDERAPTAS · lagunas aireadasA. CHAÑAR S.A. · discharges into riego
Where this comuna's waste goes
Relleno Sanitario Cerro Montevideo (Caldera) · 17.108 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
35
At high or very high risk
12
1 very high
Main threat
Colapso colectores de aguas …
Colapso colectores de aguas lluvia/alcantarillados

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.

Water scarcitySource: DGA · MOP (scarcity-zone decrees)

No scarcity decree in force today.
Years under decree since 2008
2
latest: 2021 · drought chronicity

DGA water-scarcity zone decrees (by comuna, province or region; basin decrees are not counted here, so chronicity is a floor). The decree enables extraordinary water redistribution measures. At the megadrought's peak (2021) 286 comunas were under decree; today 26.

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

Mean annual temperature
14,93°C
2035-2065 projection: +1,32°C
Annual precipitation
25 mm
projection: -24%
Hot days>30°C
0
projection: +0 days
Frost days
1

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
1.734
all crimes
Rate per 100,000 inhab.
8.686
Police cases · trend
2.079
1.734
20102025
By crime type · 2025
CrimeCasesRate/100k
Alcohol and drug use in public spaces3011.508
Threats2531.267
Domestic violence2221.112
Property damage199997
Larceny113566
Minor injuries105526
Burglary of an inhabited place94471
Burglary of an uninhabited place76381
Theft of items from vehicles64321
Robbery with violence or intimidation44220
Less serious injuries34170
Drug-related crimes33165

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
52
Guards and inspectors
89
1 per 224 hab
Patrol fleet
11
cars, pickups, motorcycles, bikes
Patrol fleet by type
Pickups: 3Motorcycles: 4Bicycles: 4Drones: 1
Surveillance cameras · trend
24
52
20202025

Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)

Crashes · 2024
100
Deaths
5
25 per 100,000 inhab.
Injured
65
18 serious
Pedestrian collisions
6
1 pedestrian killed

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.

Caldera, Atacama · Monitor Municipios