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Escudo de Freirina

Freirina

Atacama7.840 inhabitantsPoblación proyectada INE 20243.214 km² of area2 inh./km²$6.553M ingreso municipalSINIM · ingreso total percibido · 2025
Profile today2050
The comuna in context · among 346 comunas
Education
514 pts
4th worst PAES reading comprehension
Explore
Environment
56 species in conservation status
18th most documented threatened species
Explore
Economy
405/1,000 inhab.
28th most promised jobs per inhabitant (one megaproject transforms it)
Explore
Population
−1,2%
Population would fall between now and 2050
Society
28,6%
Multidimensional poverty · 32nd highest of 346
Finance
$836 thousand
per inhabitant per year · rank 93 of 346
Finance
76,7%
It depends on the Common Fund: almost no own revenue
Education
514 pts
below the national median in the PAES (576,9 pts)
Finance
124th
most dependent on the Common Fund of 340
Summary

What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap

9 Squares and green areas
7 Schools
2 Health centers
1 Kindergartens
1 Libraries
1 Carabineros

Freirina es una comuna y pueblo del Norte Chico de Chile, ubicada en la provincia de Huasco, región de Atacama a 179 km de Copiapó.

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

Liveability index · EIU style

50.9 /100
Ver el ranking y simular
#138 of 346 · most liveable in the country (EIU weighting)
Safety71
Health29
Culture and environment73
Education28
Infrastructure31
AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests

Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

FR
Fernando Ruhl P.
INDEPENDIENTE
1.823
votes (35.05%)
6.324
Electoral roll
86,81%
Turnout
Mayoral history · 7 terms
FR
Fernando Ruhl P.
2024-2028 · INDEPENDIENTE
1.823
votes
CA
Cesar Antonio Orellana Orellana
2021-2024 · PS
2.085
votes
RD
Roberto Daniel Bruzzone Galeb
2008-2012 · RN
1.158
votes
LC
Leonel Cepeda Altamirano
2004-2008 · PDC
1.143
votes
LC
Leonel Cepeda Altamirano
2000-2004 · PDC
1.098
votes
LC
Leonel Cepeda Altamirano
1996-2000 · DC
970
votes
LC
Leonel Cepeda Altamirano
1992-1996 · DC
326
votes

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

Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL

DE
Donald Esbry R.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · PARTIDO DEMOCRATA CRISTIANO
1.005
votes
CL
Claudio Lazcano R.
POR CHILE, SEGUIMOS · PARTIDO COMUNISTA DE CHILE
381
votes
AC
Adolfo Cepeda Y.
CENTRO DEMOCRATICO · INDEPENDIENTE
329
votes
JV
Juan Vega C.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · PARTIDO DEMOCRATA CRISTIANO
312
votes
JA
Jose Araya G.
CHILE MUCHO MEJOR · PARTIDO SOCIALISTA DE CHILE
296
votes
CJ
Claudia Jofre E.
CHILE VAMOS UDI-EVOPOLI E INDEPENDIENTES · INDEPENDIENTE
238
votes

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

Este municipio tiene carpetas de actas del concejo en su Transparencia Activa, pero SIN documentos publicados (incumplimiento de la Ley 20.285).

Comptroller auditsSource: CGR · Municipal Observatory

Findingstotal
93
Highly complex
1
Audit reports
0
YearFindingsAltam.Compl.Median.Reports
20231494
202026620
2018211713
20171414
20151868

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

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

  • TS
    Transelec S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 5 audiencias · 2023–2026
  • CG
    Compañía General de Electricidad S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2025–2026
  • CS
    Colbun S..a.
    Lobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2025–2026
  • LR
    La Roca SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2023
  • HS
    Health Systems Design & Connection
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • AE
    Agencia en Mente Comunicaciones
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • CC
    Comply Chile
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • FA
    Fundación Acción Colectiva
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • DC
    De Capital, Fondo de Energias Renovables
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
  • Cm
    Control Minera Chile SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • AL
    Abbott Laboratories de Chile Ltda.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • SL
    Sisinf Ltda.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • AC
    Aguas Chañar S.A.
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • CS
    Colaboraconsulting SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2025
  • I
    Ist
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • FA
    Febos Ami SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • IS
    Idem SpA
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • EC
    Esg Compas
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • Ad
    Aprende Drones SpA Umiles Latinoamerica
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2026
  • SI
    Servicios Industriales Limitada, Axinntus
    Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
and 11 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

5.977
inhabitants
7.865
inhabitants
20022025

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

See the full trajectory to 2050
Since 2002
+32%
inhabitants
Estimated population 2050
7.791
-3% vs. 2035 (7.996)
Over 60 · 2050
35,5%
27,48% in 2035 · +8 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)75,58 %CENSO 2017 2017
School disengagement (leaves the system)0,9 %MINEDUC 2023
School enrollment63 studentsMINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
Municipal enrollment100 %MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024
PAES reading comprehension (DEMRE)514 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
PAES mathematics M1 (DEMRE)528 ptsDEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026
poblacion_censo7.577 inh.2024 Census 2024
Income poverty (CASEN 2022)13,4 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022)28,6 %CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022
Indigenous peoples27,48 %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 74 students registered for the PAES.

Registro Social de Hogares

People in the RSH
8.055
4.175 households
Households in the most vulnerable 40%
2.416
58% of RSH households
Female-headed households
50%
2.102
Elderly (60+)1.90824%
Children and adolescents (<18)1.84923%
Foreign nationals721%
Belonging to indigenous peoples7569%
People with moderate/severe dependency1081%
Single-person households2.03649%

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
1.399
6 schools
Students per teacher
12,5
112 teachers
national median: 10,15
Average attendance
87,4%
national median: 89,8%
Priority studentsSEP
77,8%
socioeconomic vulnerability
national median: 66,8%
Where they study · by provider
Public (municipal + SLEP) 100%Private subsidized 0%
Pass rate
97,7%
national median: 98,2%
Dropoutschool withdrawal
1,23%
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
8.949
114% of the population
Doctors employed
2
Health staff by contract type
Permanent staff: 61Contract staff: 17Fee contracts: 2
Primary-care medical visits · per year
7.377
12.237
20102025
Comprehensive home visits · per year
520
1.280
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 (8.918 in total)
CenterTypeProvider typeEnrollees% brackets A-B
Centro de Salud Familiar FreirinaFamily Health Center (CESFAM)Municipal8.42656%
Posta de Salud Rural Carrizalillo (Freirina)Rural Health Post (PSR)Municipal49274%

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

Costs · 2025
Health spending accrued: $3.176.650.000 ($354.973/enrollee)MINSAL per capita: $2.162.498.000Municipal contribution: $115.125.000

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

Indigenous population
2.082
27.5% of the census population (Census 2024)
Indigenous communities
9
RNAI CONADI registry · Mar 2024
PeoplePeople% of total
Diaguita1.62578.0%
Chango1698.1%
Mapuche1406.7%
Aymara633.0%

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.

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

Active neighborhood councils
27
Councils per 1,000 inhabitants
3.4
density of territorial organization
Non-profit organizations
241
the entire active civil fabric
Committees (water, housing, progress)
78
Sports
25
Social and aid
25
For the elderly
9
Cultural
7
Foundations and corporations
1
Fire brigades
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.

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

Local mediaTypedial
PPROFETAFM94.9 FM
CHComunic. Hilda del Rosario Valdivia Ardiles E.I.R.L. · holderFM96.3 FM
MTMas Telecom Ingenieria y Telecomunicaciones SpA · holderFM97.9 FM
SdSoc. de Ingenieria y Telecomunicaciones Telecomsite SpA · holderFM99.5 FM
SRSoc. Radiodifusora Alamos y Rivera SpA · holderFM100.5 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
92
1,2% of the census population (Census 2024)
Main origin
Colombia
24 people · 26% of the foreigners
Main countries of origin
24 Colombia
22 Bolivia
16 Venezuela
12 Perú

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

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

Families in informal settlements
8
1 encampment (2024 Registry)
Housing deficit
245
9% of the comuna's households
Housing permits · 2024
2
164 m² · new construction
Subsidies Integrated System · DS01
26
paid · 2011–2025
Subsidies Solidarity Fund · DS49
425
beneficiaries · 2012–2024
Subsidies Rental · DS52
3
paid · 2015–2024

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

6.177homes · by type (2017)
House
3.044 · 87%
House
2.632 · 98.2%
Shack/hut/shanty
410 · 11.7%
Shack/improvised dwelling
28 · 1%
Other private
21 · 0.6%
Room in old house/tenement
19 · 0.5%
Other private
15 · 0.6%
Mobile
3 · 0.1%
Apartment
2 · 0.1%
Room in old house/tenement
1 · 0%
Indigenous dwelling
1 · 0%
Mobile
1 · 0%
77%owner-occupied · tenure (2002)
Owned outright
1.168 · 72.8%
Free of charge
175 · 10.9%
Rented
105 · 6.5%
Provided for work
97 · 6%
Owned, being paid off
59 · 3.7%

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

ResourcesBudget, spending, municipal procurement and more

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

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

Mining rent
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
$6.553.385.000
Own revenue
$1.116.987.000
17% of the total
Municipal Common Fund
$3.676.814.000
56% of the total
State transfers
$1.659.085.000
25% of the total
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios

Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)

$600.557.000
$6.553.385.000
20012025

Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025

16.8%
28.6%
9.8%
44.3%
Property tax$187.899.000
Business licenses$319.144.000
Vehicle permits$109.687.000
Cleaning fees$5.671.000
Other own revenue$494.586.000
Special-law revenues · 2025
Mining licenses (Law 19.143): $325.798.000

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

Revenue by sector · 2025
66.6%
33.2%
Municipal$6.553.385.000
Education$25.901.000
Health$3.266.493.000
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Net recipient: it receives $3.490.141.000 more than it contributes.
Evolución por fuente de ingreso

Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend

$57.784.000
$1.116.987.000
20012025

FCM received · trend

$487.271.000
$3.676.814.000
20012025

State transfers · trend

$26.018.000
$1.659.085.000
20012025

Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE

Current budget · 2025
$10.660.090.000
Accrued spending · 2025
$6.907.676.000
Execution rate
64.8%
Unexecuted: $3.752.414.000
Low execution: it only executed 64.8% of the budget — $3.752.414.000 unspent.

Accrued spending · trend

$698.320.000
$6.907.676.000
20012025

Distribution by management area · 2025

68.4%
13.6%
7.6%
7.4%
Internal management$4.723.267.000
Community services$938.687.000
Social programs$521.908.000
Municipal activities$510.458.000
Recreational programs$175.181.000
Cultural programs$38.175.000

What the budget is spent on · 2025

Spending lineAmount% of spending
Municipal healthcare (primary care) · comuna health-sector spending$3.176.650.00046.0%
Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance$2.021.308.00029.3%
Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees$1.779.627.00025.8%
Investment (works and projects)$1.423.649.00020.6%
Electricity (facilities)$280.112.0004.1%
Water (facilities)$154.116.0002.2%
Transfers to health$132.937.0001.9%
Cleaning, garbage and landfills · waste collection and disposal$124.898.0001.8%
Councillor stipends$75.331.0001.1%
Street lighting$34.784.0000.5%
Travel allowances$27.568.0000.4%
Commissions and representation$916.0000.0%

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%
29.3%
45.0%
Personnel (Subt. 21)$1.779.627.000
Goods and services (Subt. 22)$2.021.308.000
Others$3.106.741.000

Personnel by contract type · 2025

27.4%
35.2%
9.7%
27.1%
Permanent staff$673.887.000
Contract staff$866.070.000
Fee contracts$239.670.000
Labor Code$15.970.000
Community progs.$666.232.000

Municipal headcount · 2023

33.9%
66.1%
Permanent staff21
Contract staff41
Total: 62 staffWomen: 58.1%Professionalization: 37.1%
Cost/staffer permanent: $32.299.667/yearCost/staffer contract: $15.318.268/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: $1.423.649.000 (20.6% of spending)Councillor stipends: $75.331.000Travel allowances: $27.568.000Commissions and representation: $916.000

Basic and general services · 2025

Garbage and landfills: $124.898.000Street lighting: $34.784.000Electricity: $280.112.000Water: $154.116.000

Final works approvals (DOM) · per year

40
6
20012025

Building permits issued · per year

13
13
20122025

Management indicator · 2025

Maintained green areas per inhabitant
6 m²/inh.
Security/patrol cars
0
Security/patrol bicycles
0
Surveillance cameras
7
Security/patrol pickups
3
Security booths
0
CESFAM in the comuna
1
Primary-care medical visits
12.237
Clinics
0
urban and rural
Dependence on the Municipal Common Fund
76,7%
of own revenue
Security drones
0
Permanent staff
16
Permanent own revenue
17,04%
of total revenue
Doctors employed
2
as of Dec 31
Security/patrol motorcycles
0
Building permits
13
Health staff
17
contract
Health staff
2
fee-based
Health staff
61
permanent
FONASA-enrolled population
8.949
municipal health
Rural health posts
1
Street-market stalls
85
Final works approvals
6

What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data

Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público
Historic amount
$49.304.346.450
Purchase orders
23.812

Purchase-order amount · trend

$1.286.382.744
$1.970.605.597
20072026
Top suppliersAmountPOs
Soc.constructora del Norte Sociedad Anonima$2.717.547.6132
Emigdio H. Venegas Cereceda$1.812.496.66151
Constructora Balmaceda Ltda.$1.682.600.0001
Ingenieria y Servicios Bonani y Riveros Ltda.$1.573.001.5211
Hydros SpA$1.554.497.0001
Gmpg Ingenieria y Construcción Limitada$1.482.741.0431
Producciones Eventos Cristian Alberto Arcos Araos$1.279.388.853219
Nbaconstruccionesltda$1.236.658.23514

Purchase mechanism · 2026

Tender $725.981.57837%
Agile Purchase $672.315.78534%
Direct award discretionary$470.316.84124%
Framework Agreement $101.991.3915%

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

Registered companies
518
domiciled in the comuna
Dependent workers
876

Pyramid by sales bracket

67.8%
13.3%
18.3%
Micro (≤2,400 UF)351 companies
Small (≤25k UF)69 companies
Medium (≤100k UF)1 companies
Large (>100k UF)2 companies
No sales/no info95 companies

Largest companies domiciled in the comuna

CompanyLine of businessSales bracketWorkers
Algas Chanaral S.A.COMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARACLarge 237
Agricola Konavle Ltda.ACTIVIDADES INMOBILIARIASLarge 24
Minera Kmt SpAEXPLOTACION DE MINAS Y CANTERASMedium 27
Servicios y Construcciones Electricas / Elec-Mon SpACONSTRUCCIONSmall 3111
I Municipalidad de FreirinaADMINISTRACION PUBLICA Y DEFENSA; PLANES DE SMicro 3187
Constructora Cristian Alzamora SpACONSTRUCCIONNo sales173

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
1
US$ 300 M declared
Approved last 5 years
12
US$ 1.227 M declared
Construction jobsunder review
226
+ 12 in operations
Construction jobsapproved 5 yrs
2.085
peak labor
ProjectOwnerStatusInvestment (US$M)Constr. jobs
Delva Subestación, Transmisión y AlmacenamientoDIADelva Transmision Bess SpAUnder Review600452
Parque Fotovoltaico Llanos de MarañónEIAParque Solar Llanos de Marañón SpA.Approved372550
Parque Fotovoltaico Cristaria SolarEIACristaria Solar SpAApproved335500
Parque Fotovoltaico Don CarlosEIAOpde Chile SpAApproved240450
Parque Fotovoltaico Corinto SolarEIACorinto Solar SpAApproved200617
Parque Eólico AtacamaEIAParque Eólico Atacama SpAApproved128,3875
Central Solar Fotovoltaica El SauceDIAGenermin SpAApproved95100
Parque Solar La TotoraDIAParsosy Sunna SpAApproved7470
Sistema de Almacenamiento de Energia y Linea de Transmision BESS ChaguDIABess Jacaranda SpAApproved50,160
PROYECTO FOTOVOLTAICO LAS TABLASDIALas Tablas Solar SpAApproved12100
Nueva Línea 1x110 kV Maitencillo-VallenarDIATranselec S.A.Approved8,5595
Ampliación Proyecto de Explotación La CuestaDIACompañia Minera Chipana S.A.Approved294

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

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

No air monitoring station (SINCA) in the comuna.

3monitoring stations· measures SO2· stations: SM6, SM7, SM8

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.

324
Species
198
Flora
113
Fauna
13
Funga
86
In conservation status
64
Endemic to Chile
Species in conservation category
Sandillón, asiento de la suegraEriosyce aurataVUBelloto del norte, belloto (genérico)Beilschmiedia miersiiVUQueuleGomortega keuleENBelloto del surBeilschmiedia berteroanaENRuilNothofagus alessandriiENSapo de atacamaRhinella atacamensisVUPitaoPitavia punctataENGuayacánPorlieria chilensisVUUvilloMonttea chilensisENRana chilenaCalyptocephalella gayiVUPalma chilena, palmera chilena, palmera de coquitos, palma de miel, palma de vino de chile, can – canJubaea chilensisENRoble de santiago, roble blanco, roble, hualle, pellín,hualoNothofagus macrocarpaVUHuillipatagua, naranjillo, pataguaCitronella mucronataVUSapo de ruloRhinella aruncoVUParamela de til-tilAdesmia resinosaENLagartija de eleodoroLiolaemus rosenmanniVULagartija de schröederLiolaemus schroederiVUPancoraAegla laevisENPejerrey chilenoBasilichthys microlepidotusVUGruñidor de valeriaPristidactylus valeriaeENLagartija de isabelLiolaemus isabelaeVUAñañucaPhycella scarlatinaVUCascarudo de las docasCallyntra multicostaENBagre grandeNematogenys inermisENTollo de agua dulceDiplomystes chilensisENVaquita del desierto de paposoGyriosomus angustusENLagartija de ortiz, lagartija de juan carlos ortizLiolaemus juanortiziVUPochaCheirodon pisciculusVUPatagua, patahuaCrinodendron pataguaVULagarto gruñidor de álvaroPristidactylus alvaroiCRLagartija de patricia iturraLIolaemus patriciaiturraeVUVaquita de la isla choros, vaquita del desiertoGyriosomus granulipennisVUGuanacoLama guanicoeVUZorro colorado, zorro culpeo, zorro coloradode tierra del fuego, zorro culpeo de tierra del fuegoLycalopex culpaeusVUTricahueCyanoliseus patagonusENPiuquén, piquén, guayataChloephaga melanopteraENLiquen (genérico)Acarospora schleicheriENGüiñaLeopardus guignaVUTarántula chilena rosada, araña pollitoGrammostola roseaVULinguePersea lingueVUAraucaria, pehuén, piñonero, pino piñonero, pino chileno, pino araucaria, pewen, guiliuAraucaria araucanaENVicuñaVicugna vicugnaVUChinchilla cordilleranaChinchilla chinchillaCRRatón topo del matorralChelemys megalonyxVUPuyeGalaxias maculatusVUAlerceFitzroya cupressoidesENAbejorro, abejorro colorado, moscardón, duillin, diwmeñ, abejorro gigante de la patagonia, don basilioBombus dahlbomiiENPidencitoLaterallus jamaicensisENChungungo, nutria marina, gato de mar, chinchiménLontra felinaENCanelo, boique, voigue, fuñe, choólDrimys winteriENOlivillo, teque, tique, palo muerto, aceitunilloAextoxicon punctatumVUBallena de aleta, rorcual comúnBalaenoptera physalusCRBallena sei, rorcual bacalao, rorcual de rudolphiBalaenoptera borealisCRComadrejita trompudaRhyncholestes raphanurusVUPingüino de humboldt, pingüino, pájaro niño, patranka, humboldt penguin (inglés), peruvian penguin (inglés)Spheniscus humboldtiENCamarón de río del norteCryphiops caementariusVU-Copiapoa coquimbanaNTCarbonillo, mendozaCordia decandraNTLagartija de manchaLiolaemus nigromaculatusNTLagarto nítidoLiolaemus nitidusNT
and 26 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.

4 Wetlands · 4 urban · 1.179 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)

CodeWetlandHectares
HUR-03-04Paseo Ribereñourban750 /1.457
HUR-03-10Sector Qda. San Juanurban425
HUR-03-13Playa Carrizalillourban3
HUR-03-12Carrizalillourban1

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. 37 projects totaling US$ 3.922 million, approved between 2005 and 2026. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.

Energy23 projects · US$ 2.860 M · 2008–2026
Interchile S.A.Plan de Expansión Chile LT 2x500 kV Cardones - Polpaico · Parque Eólico Sarco
Mining5 projects · US$ 708 M · 2010–2019
El Morro SpAEstudio de Impacto Ambiental Proyecto El Morro · Proyecto Cerro Blanco
Miscellaneous industrial facilities1 project · US$ 174 M · 2010
Compañía Minera del Pacífico S.A.Ampliación y Mejoras Operacionales en Planta de Pellets
Agriculture and livestock1 project · US$ 167 M · 2005
Agrocomercial As LimitadaProyecto Agroindustrial del Valle de Huasco
Others7 projects · US$ 13 M · 2009–2020
Enaex Servicios S.A.Ampliación de la Actividad de Transporte de Sustancias Peligrosas de ENAEX Servicios S.A. · Modificación de Transporte Terrestre de Ácido Sulfúrico por Carreteras de la II Región

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

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

Basic utilitiesSource: SISS · CNE · MINEDUC

Distribuidora eléctrica
CGE
Empresa sanitaria (agua y alcantarillado)
Aguas Chanar
Higher education
No campus · nearest in Vallenar at 35.3 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

Appeals before the Environmental Courts

Appeals
1
on projects in the comuna
Case no.Parties / projectSubjectDecision
R-240-2020
2TA
Organización Comunitaria Funcional Vecinos Los Nogales / Director Ejecutivo del Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental
Plan de Expansión Chile LT 2x500 kv Cardones-Polpaico
Administrative invalidationRejects

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
6 m²
60% 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
8
Historic monuments
8

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
PTAS - FREIRINAPTAS · lodos activadosA. CHAÑAR S.A. · discharges into río huasco
Where this comuna's waste goes
Relleno Sanitario Provincial del Huasco (Vallenar) · 2.386 t/year

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

Forest firesSource: CONAF · Occurrence and damage statistics (2023-2024)

Wildfires · 2023-2024
3
Area affected
23 ha
mostly shrubland
Cumulative last 5 seasons
34 ha
includes the 2022-2023 mega-season

Occurrence and area affected by wildfires (CONAF). The 5-season cumulative gives a fairer picture than a single year: fire is episodic and big catastrophes concentrate in few seasons. The area is comuna-wide, not just urban.

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

Critical points registered
11
At high or very high risk
7
Main threat
Interrupción de caminos

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
3
latest: 2022 · 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
14,31°C
2035-2065 projection: +1,22°C
Annual precipitation
60 mm
projection: -26%
Hot days>30°C
0
projection: +2 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
400
all crimes
Rate per 100,000 inhab.
5.102
Police cases · trend
422
400
20102025
By crime type · 2025
CrimeCasesRate/100k
Alcohol and drug use in public spaces68867
Threats63804
Property damage62791
Domestic violence57727
Minor injuries31395
Burglary of an inhabited place24306
Larceny21268
Burglary of an uninhabited place15191
Drug-related crimes13166
Weapons-related crimes11140
Carrying a bladed or pointed weapon789
Robbery with violence or intimidation677

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
7
Guards and inspectors
0
1 per 7.840 hab
Patrol fleet
3
cars, pickups, motorcycles, bikes
Patrol fleet by type
Pickups: 3
Surveillance cameras · trend
7
7
20202025

Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)

Crashes · 2024
25
Deaths
0
0 per 100,000 inhab.
Injured
34
6 serious

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.