Chile's Atacama region has a pipeline of 156 investment projects worth US$ 40,887 million, according to the report that the Confederation of Production and Commerce (CPC) and Inacap delivered to President José Antonio Kast on October 20, 2026, at the opening of Expo Forede in Copiapó, [Diario Financiero](https://www.df.cl/regiones/atacama/cpc-e-inacap-identifican-156-proyectos-por-us-40-887-millones-en-atacama-y) reported. At the same event, the government announced changes to the mining claims regime and a cut from 55 to 30 mining safety permits.
It is the first time a sitting president has attended Forede, Atacama's largest business fair, held October 20-22 with more than 400 exhibitors and Australia as guest country (Minería Chilena). These are the figures for investment in Atacama and what the government announced.
Atacama's investment pipeline in figures
The report "Atacama, productive engines, investment and talent for regional development" splits projects into two scenarios. The baseline includes only those with a construction schedule or detailed engineering and resolved environmental permits; the activation scenario adds those still in permitting (DF).
| Scenario | Projects | Investment (US$ million) | Construction jobs | Operating jobs | Effect on regional GDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 76 | 17,417 | 27,451 | 11,001 | +9.6% |
| Activation (total) | 156 | 40,887 | 56,215 | 23,971 | +25.6% |
The gap between both scenarios, 80 projects worth US$ 23,470 million (our calculation), depends largely on permits moving forward. A third "take-off" scenario assumes a 10% productivity gain in priority sectors, with effects equal to 9.2% of regional GDP and 5.4% of employment. The sectors with the most projects are copper and iron mining, renewable energy and industrial services, followed by desalination, logistics, critical minerals and tourism.
What the government announced for mining in Atacama
Acting Mining Minister Álvaro González presented the 2026-2030 sector plan, with three pillars: regulatory certainty, modernization of regulation and stronger mining institutions, according to Diario El Día.
| Announcement | Known details | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mining claims (patentes) | Changes to simplify procedures and ease exploration and mining | No text or date published |
| Mining safety permits | Cut from 55 to 30 by eliminating and merging procedures | Under way |
| Environmental review (SEIA) | Adjusted entry thresholds for productive and exploration projects | Under study, no figures |
| Workplace safety | Cross-sector panel aiming for "zero fatalities" after seven fatal accidents in a month | Activated |
| Route 5 North | Tendering of the highway to Antofagasta in sections, starting with Caldera-Taltal | Tender planned for 2027 |
None of the sources reviewed gives an effective date for the mining claims changes or the new thresholds of the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEA). Kast focused his speech on cutting permit times and linked illegal mining to organized crime: "Illegal mining is part of organized crime", he said, according to Madero.
The figures do not match: how much is under review
Two different figures were given for mining investment under review. According to Diario El Día, the acting minister said that since March 11, mining projects worth more than US$ 24.5 billion have entered environmental review, and that the national mining pipeline projected to 2034 exceeds US$ 104 billion. Kast, by contrast, spoke of more than US$ 3.4 billion in mining projects and US$ 800 million in renewables under review, according to Madero. Sources do not clarify whether the president referred only to Atacama; that is likely, but not confirmed.
| Figure | Who gave it | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| US$ 40,887 million (156 projects) | CPC and Inacap | Atacama, all sectors |
| US$ 24.5 billion | Acting Mining Minister | Mining projects entering the SEIA since March 11 (national) |
| US$ 104 billion | Acting Mining Minister | National mining pipeline to 2034 |
| US$ 3.4 billion | President Kast | Mining projects under review (scope not specified) |
Why Atacama matters for Chile's economy
Atacama contributes 3% of national GDP but 8.2% of exports, and mining accounts for 97.1% of what the region exports. Its GDP per capita, US$ 33,870, equals 191.6% of the national average; yet poverty reaches 18.6% and unemployment was 9.2% in 2025, with 25.7% among young people, according to the same CPC report (DF).
| Atacama indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| GDP growth 2019-2025 | 30% |
| Employment growth 2019-2025 | 6.6% |
| Share of national GDP | 3% |
| Share of national exports | 8.2% |
| Unemployment 2025 | 9.2% |
| Informality 2025 | 29% |
The contrast between GDP up 30% and employment up 6.6% sums up the challenge: mining investment is capital-intensive and creates few permanent jobs. That is why the report stresses local copper and iron processing, regional suppliers and technical training. The national context does not help: copper output is falling (see the 23% drop at Escondida) and unemployment remains high (see the deal that ended the Centinela strike).
The bottlenecks identified by the report
- Slow permits, the business groups' most repeated complaint. Corproa president Juan José Ronsecco said "permitting remains a critical bottleneck" (Minería Chilena).
- Infrastructure: gaps in roads, ports, power, water and urban services.
- Power transmission and storage, key for renewable energy and desalination projects.
- Little local processing of copper and iron, and low participation of regional suppliers.
- Human capital and housing: lack of technical training, skills certification and services to attract and retain workers.
"There is a very large investment pipeline and we have to prepare to make better use of it", said CPC president Susana Jiménez. The report is part of the "Regional Productive Engines" series, which will cover all 16 regions; the previous one, on Los Ríos, was delivered on October 8.
Frequently asked questions
How much investment is there in Atacama?
According to the CPC and Inacap, 156 projects worth US$ 40,887 million, of which 76, worth US$ 17,417 million, already have a construction schedule or detailed engineering.
What is Expo Forede?
It is Atacama's largest business fair, organized by Corproa. Its tenth edition runs in Copiapó from October 20 to 22, 2026, with Australia as guest country.
What changes in mining permits?
The government is pushing to cut mining safety permits from 55 to 30 and announced changes to mining claims and SEIA entry thresholds, but published no texts or dates.
How many jobs would the Atacama investment create?
In the activation scenario, 56,215 temporary construction jobs and 23,971 operating jobs, according to the report.
