Summary
What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap
Liveability index · EIU style
55.5 /100AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests
Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

Mayoral history · 8 terms
SERVEL · TRICEL (1992-2008) · DecideChile (2024) · Wikidata (pre-1992)
Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL
Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL
Sesiones
En una línea: El concejo conoció el inicio formal del proceso de expropiación de más de 100 lotes para el encauzamiento del río Salado, y aprobó los espacios para propaganda del plebiscito constitucional y una modificación presupuestaria del área de salud municipal.
Temas tratados
- Escuela Ignacio Domeico (nombre aproximado según transcripción): El director de obras informó que tiene recepción provisoria (diciembre 2022); la definitiva se espera para julio 2023, pendiente de resolución sanitaria de Nuevo Atacama.
- Propaganda electoral plebiscito 2023: El concejo revisó y ajustó la propuesta de espacios públicos habilitados para carteles, reduciendo el número máximo por candidato, y confirmó al encargado técnico comunal (Fernando Alzamora, según transcripción).
- Expropiaciones cauce río Salado: Luis Verdugo, director regional de la DOH Atacama, explicó el proceso en curso: más de 100 lotes en Chañaral, 67 en El Salado y 86 en Diego de Almagro serán expropiados. Los tres peritos ya fueron designados.
- Modificación presupuestaria DAS: Reasignación contable de fondos dentro del área de salud municipal, por instrucción de Contraloría Regional, para adecuar el pago de funcionarios revertidos a contrata.
- Puntos varios: Avance del centro de diálisis (ahora bajo responsabilidad del Servicio de Salud), royalty minero, estado de plazas y obras pendientes, solicitudes vecinales diversas.
Acuerdos y votaciones
- Aprobado por unanimidad: Propuesta de espacios para propaganda electoral del plebiscito 2023, con el siguiente límite ajustado: Plaza 26 de Octubre (2 elementos), Parque Arturo Prat (2), Plaza Calistenia (1), Plaza de Matardón (1), Plaza Barquito (2), Plaza El Salado (1). Se ratificó a Fernando Alzamora como encargado técnico comunal.
- Aprobado por unanimidad: Modificación presupuestaria del DAEM/DAS para reasignar fondos entre cuentas contables de "planta" a "contrata", permitiendo el pago de sueldos hasta diciembre 2023.
Plata y obras
- Deuda Escuela Domeico: Factura pendiente de ~170 M con empresa de factoring. El municipio recibió ~136 M del Ministerio de Educación; restan ~22 M por llegar. El pago se efectuará una vez lleguen todos los fondos y se acuerde el retiro de la demanda judicial.
- Expropiaciones DOH: Presupuesto estimado de ~2.900 M de pesos para las expropiaciones en Chañaral. La primera obra (600 m en sector norte, terreno fiscal) se licitaría en el segundo semestre 2023, con un valor aproximado de 3.000 M.
- Royalty minero (proyecto de ley en trámite, cifras son proyecciones): Chañaral recibiría ~318 M (fondo equidad territorial) y ~1.080 M (fondo comunas mineras), totalizando cerca de 1.400 M anuales si se promulga la ley.
- Modificación presupuestaria DAS: Traspaso de ~160 M entre cuentas contables (cifra mencionada en sesión; verificar exactitud).
Puntos de debate o controversia
- Expropiaciones zona de servicios: Comerciantes del sector norte (estaciones de servicio, restaurantes) expresaron preocupación por reubicación. La DOH aclaró que Petrobras sería expropiada completamente; la COPEC parcialmente. No hay solución de reubicación definida aún.
- Conectividad sector norte: Varios concejales y vecinos insistieron en la necesidad de un puente vehicular en calle Jorge Rivera, no solo pasarela o badén. La DOH reconoció la necesidad pero señaló que no está en el diseño aprobado y depende de rentabilidad social.
- Centro de diálisis: Consejales pidieron mayor comunicación pública sobre los avances. La alcaldesa defendió la gestión e informó que el Servicio de Salud asumirá la responsabilidad del proyecto (terreno, construcción y operación), junto a Codelco.
Para seguir
- Recepción definitiva Escuela Domeico: julio 2023. Pendiente también pago a empresa factoring y levantamiento de demanda judicial.
- Primeros precinformes de peritos para expropiaciones: 30 a 45 días.
- Licitación primera obra DOH (sector norte): segundo semestre 2023.
- Reunión informativa pública sobre centro de diálisis: pendiente de fecha; se usaría el auditórium.
- Visita a piscinas decantadoras de Taltal junto a concejales de Diego de Almagro: 30 de mayo.
- Pendiente respuesta a cartas sobre: estado causas laborales, limpieza quebrada Becuña Maquena, informe plaza de armas, PMC (Plan Municipal de Cultura).
- Plan regulador y reunión con dirigentes de borde costero: sin fecha confirmada.
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)
Official council minutesSource: CPLT · Active Transparency inventory (Law 20.285)
- Acta de Sesión Ordinaria. N° 1 · 2026 ↗
- Sesión de Acta Ordinaria. N° 2 · 2026 ↗
- Acta de Sesión Ordinaria N° 3 · 2026 ↗
- Acta de sesión Ordinaria. N° 4 · 2026 ↗
- Acta de Sesión Ordinaria. N° 5 · 2026 ↗
- Acta de Sesión Ordinaria. N° 6 · 2026 ↗
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)
What the council resolvesSource: Official minutes · AI extraction (ongoing)
| Resolution | Type | Amount | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varios (Hora de Incidentes) | Other | — | — |
| Aprobación y/o modificación de la Acta Sesión Instalación Concejo Municipal del 28 de junio de 2021 | Other | — | — |
| Determinación de dos integrantes del Concejo Municipal para formar parte del Consejo Comunal de Seguridad Pública | Appointment | — | — |
| 4.2 · Solicitud de aprobación de modificaciones presupuestarias para la Oficina Municipal de Educación | Budget amendment | — | — |
| 4.1 · Aprobación de la renovación del rol de patentes de alcoholes para el primer semestre tributario del año 2021 | License | — | — |
| Presentación de antecedentes para aprobación contrato proyecto 'DISEÑO REPOSICIÓN ESCUELA GASPAR CABRALES, BARQUITO, CHANARAL' y estado avance últimas licitaciones | Tender | $81.534.596 | — |
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
Comptroller auditsSource: CGR · Municipal Observatory
| Year | Findings | Altam. | Compl. | Median. | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 18 | — | 5 | 12 | — |
| 2019 | 14 | — | 10 | 4 | — |
| 2018 | 94 | 27 | 43 | 22 | — |
| 2017 | 22 | 4 | 18 | — | — |
| 2015 | 15 | 2 | 8 | 5 | — |
CGR severity classification · audit findings on the municipality and its corporations
Who requests meetings with the municipalitySource: InfoLobby · CPLT (Law 20,730)
Who requests meetings with the municipalitySource: InfoLobby · CPLT (Law 20,730)
- SLSisinf Ltda.Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2024–2025
- CCConstructora Costa Luarca S.A.Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2024
- CGCompañía General de Electricidad S.A.Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2024–2026
- CPConsultorias Publicas Ltda.Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2024–2025
- ESEdusmart SpALobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2025–2026
- ISI3 SpALobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2024–2025
- ISInnuvo SpALobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2023
- SeSoluciones en Seguridad LimitadaLobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
- CMConsejo MineroLobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
- OAONG Atacama LimpiaLobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
- HSHealth Systems Design & ConnectionLobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
- ELEstudio Litigantes Norte LimitadaLobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
- UUsplatLobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
- CSChungungo Solar SpALobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2019
- DCDe Capital, Fondo de Energias RenovablesLobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
- SIServicios Informáticos Santiago Tech SpALobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
- EEEmpresa Editora Zig-ZagLobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
- ESEquimaqchile SpALobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
- AIAutomotora Inalco S.A.Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
- msMinera Santo Domingo ScmLobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
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
How it has changedSource: Official INE series 2002–2026 (2017 base).
See the full trajectory to 2050 →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.
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Homes with public water supply (2017 Census) | 90,94 % | CENSO 2017 2017 |
| School disengagement (leaves the system) | 2,4 % | MINEDUC 2023 |
| School enrollment | 168 students | MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024 |
| Municipal enrollment | 50 % | MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024 |
| PAES reading comprehension (DEMRE) | 568,9 pts | DEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026 |
| PAES mathematics M1 (DEMRE) | 560,8 pts | DEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026 |
| poblacion_censo | 12.345 inh. | 2024 Census 2024 |
| Income poverty (CASEN 2022) | 11,5 % | CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022 |
| Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022) | 22,8 % | CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022 |
| Indigenous peoples | 15,91 % | 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 154 students registered for the PAES.
Registro Social de Hogares
| Elderly (60+) | 2.871 | 21% |
| Children and adolescents (<18) | 3.186 | 24% |
| Foreign nationals | 377 | 3% |
| Belonging to indigenous peoples | 892 | 7% |
| People with moderate/severe dependency | 213 | 2% |
| Single-person households | 3.879 | 53% |
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
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
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.
| Center | Type | Provider type | Enrollees | % brackets A-B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centro de Salud Familiar Dr. Luis Herrera | Family Health Center (CESFAM) | Municipal | 12.572 | 53% |
| Posta de Salud Rural el Salado de Chañaral | Rural Health Post (PSR) | Municipal | 230 | 54% |
FONASA brackets A-B ≈ lowest incomes (A: without resources). Source: FONASA, as of Dec 31, 2025, DEIS code.
Indigenous peoplesSource: 2024 Census (INE) · CONADI via IDE SMA
| People | People | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Diaguita | 887 | 45.2% |
| Mapuche | 438 | 22.3% |
| Colla | 263 | 13.4% |
| Chango | 237 | 12.1% |
| Aymara | 82 | 4.2% |
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.
12 Local media · 1 Comunitaria · 11 FMSource: SUBTEL · broadcasting licences · Regional Media Survey (MSGG)
12 Local media · 1 Comunitaria · 11 FMSource: SUBTEL · broadcasting licences · Regional Media Survey (MSGG)
| Local media | Type | dial |
|---|---|---|
| BBAHIA | FM | 105.1 FM |
| CCOBRE-MAR | FM | 89.9 FM |
| OOLLANTAY | FM | 91.7 FM |
| CCCarlos Cristian Carreño Araya E.I.R.L. · holder | FM | 100.1 FM |
| DIDelfin Iglesias Barrera Producciones Publicitarias E.I.R.L. · holder | FM | 98.9 FM |
| DyDiseño y Publicidad Cristian Andres Godoy Bolvaran E.I.R.L. · holder | FM | 91.5 FM |
| FIFundacion Instituto de Educacion Popular · holder | Comunitaria | 107.1 FM |
| MTMas Telecom Chile Ltda. · holder | FM | 89.5 FM |
| PDProductora Domingo Sandoval E.I.R.L. · holder | FM | 97.7 FM |
| RBRadio Barquito Ltda. · holder | FM | 94.5 FM |
| RPRadiocomunicaciones Pronort Ltda. · holder | FM | 103.1 FM |
| RMRadiodifusora Manuel Galleguillos Pangue E.I.R.L. · holder | FM | 101.3 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
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: 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
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.
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.)
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.
Budget and revenue sourcesSource: SINIM · SUBDERE
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios
Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)
Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025
Special-law revenues · 2025
Distributed by law to specific comunas; they arrive via transfers.
Revenue by sector · 2025
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Evolución por fuente de ingreso
Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend
FCM received · trend
State transfers · trend
Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE
Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE
Accrued spending · trend
Distribution by management area · 2025
What the budget is spent on · 2025
| Spending line | Amount | % of spending | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees | $3.120.589.000 | 37.6% | |
| Municipal healthcare (primary care) · comuna health-sector spending | $2.975.751.000 | 35.9% | |
| Investment (works and projects) | $1.830.028.000 | 22.1% | |
| Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance | $1.121.868.000 | 13.5% | |
| Electricity (facilities) | $186.664.000 | 2.2% | |
| Water (facilities) | $145.024.000 | 1.7% | |
| Councillor stipends | $90.687.000 | 1.1% | |
| Travel allowances | $45.882.000 | 0.6% | |
| Commissions and representation | $9.416.000 | 0.1% |
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
Personnel by contract type · 2025
Municipal headcount · 2023
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
Basic and general services · 2025
Final works approvals (DOM) · per year
Building permits issued · per year
What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data
Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público ↗
What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data
Purchase-order amount · trend
| Top suppliers | Amount | POs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacitación Municipal | $7.159.440.000 | 19 |
| Puerto Almeida SpA | $4.475.120.348 | 30 |
| Victor Hugo Nuñez Arancibia | $4.047.177.164 | 45 |
| Osvaldo Silva | $3.552.417.706 | 105 |
| Ims SpA | $3.231.607.951 | 2 |
| Dimar Ltda. | $2.333.923.507 | 4 |
| Guillermo Antonio | $1.685.006.935 | 60 |
| Voltta Ingenieria Electrica SpA | $943.691.569 | 1 |
Purchase mechanism · 2026
| Tender | $1.192.409.119 | 55% |
| Agile Purchase | $608.266.075 | 28% |
| Framework Agreement | $228.277.356 | 11% |
| Direct award discretionary | $122.599.369 | 6% |
Companies and economic activitySource: SII · company statistics and roster (domicile/HQ)
Pyramid by sales bracket
Largest companies domiciled in the comuna
| Company | Line of business | Sales bracket | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vecchiola S.A. | ACTIVIDADES DE SERVICIOS ADMINISTRATIVOS Y DE | Large 4 (>1M UF) | 1.173 |
| Agencias Maritimas del Norte S a | TRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTO | Large 1 | 207 |
| Inmobiliaria e Inversiones San Jose Limitada | COMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARAC | Large 1 | 26 |
| Pascual Edgardo Pizarro Toro Servicios a la Mineria Empresa Individual de Respon | TRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTO | Medium 2 | 96 |
| Servicios y Minería los Imperios Limitada | EXPLOTACION DE MINAS Y CANTERAS | Medium 2 | — |
| Eduardo Antonio Tapia Tapia E.I.R.L. | ACTIVIDADES DE SERVICIOS ADMINISTRATIVOS Y DE | Medium 1 | 87 |
| Sur Austral Extremo Limitada | OTRAS ACTIVIDADES DE SERVICIOS | Medium 1 | 36 |
| Zepeda y Vecchiola y Compania Ltda. | TRANSPORTE Y ALMACENAMIENTO | Medium 1 | 35 |
| Distribuidora Don Alvaro Ltda. | COMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARAC | Medium 1 | 21 |
| Ecosaz SpA | EXPLOTACION DE MINAS Y CANTERAS | Medium 1 | 19 |
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
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
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
Air quality observed at MMA's SINCA stations within the comuna (2024); 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.
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 · 550 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)
2 Wetlands · 2 urban · 550 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)
| Code | Wetland | Hectares |
|---|---|---|
| HUR-03-02 | Rio Saladourban | 523 /670 |
| HUR-03-01 | Des. Rio El Saladourban | 27 |
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. 52 projects totaling US$ 3.955 million, approved between 1993 and 2025. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.
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
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
| Sanctioned entity | Auditable unit | Category | Fine (UTA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Gallardo Illanes ↗ | HOSTERIA CHAÑARAL | Amenities | 6 |
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
| Case no. | Parties / project | Subject | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-147-2025 ↗ 1TA | Manuel Cortés Alfaro con Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental Proyecto minero “Playa Verde | Environmental assessment – Citizen participation | Rejects |
| 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 Assessment | Rejects |
| 3569-2022 ↗ 1TA | Manuel Cortés Alfaro con Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental Proyecto Playa Verde | Environmental assessment - Citizen participation | Rejects |
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 areasSource: SINIM · SUBDERE (2025)
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 heritageSource: National Monuments Council (Feb 2026)
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)
Territorial burdensSource: SUBDERE (waste, Jun 2023) · Gendarmería (Jun 2025) · SISS (WWTP)
Infrastructure this comuna carries — often serving others.
| Facility | Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Basural Municipal de Chañaral | Basural | 4.635 t/year |
| ES - CHAÑARAL | PTAS · emisario submarino | A. CHAÑAR S.A. · discharges into mar |
| PTAS - EL SALADO | PTAS · lombrifiltro | A. CHAÑAR S.A. · discharges into río salado |
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)
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)
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
| Crime | Cases | Rate/100k |
|---|---|---|
| Threats | 123 | 945 |
| Property damage | 120 | 922 |
| Alcohol and drug use in public spaces | 118 | 907 |
| Domestic violence | 85 | 653 |
| Minor injuries | 69 | 530 |
| Larceny | 55 | 423 |
| Drug-related crimes | 28 | 215 |
| Burglary of an inhabited place | 25 | 192 |
| Burglary of an uninhabited place | 24 | 184 |
| Receiving stolen goods | 21 | 161 |
| Serious or very serious injuries | 17 | 131 |
| Theft of items from vehicles | 14 | 108 |
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.
Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)
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.