SADDN first water connects Pacific supply to Radomiro Tomic

What changed

Codelco's 30 June 2022 board record authorized the BOOT contract with the Marubeni-Transelec consortium and identified more than USD 1 billion of investment, marine works, 840 l/s initial capacity and more than 160 km of conveyance. Techint's June 2023 record confirms Aguas Horizonte issued the EPC order to proceed. By June 2024 the auxiliary pier, coastal sump and offshore pipe welding were active; the October update documented underwater blasting, trench work, diving, intake pipes and brine return. Codelco's September 2024 commissioning-counterpart procurement assigns design, construction, commissioning, start-up and 20-year operation to the developer while preserving owner assurance and later Codelco operation of the distribution system. Techint reported coastal energization in August 2025, first intake-tower installation in November, a 940 m Loa River HDD in December, and near-complete reservoir works in March 2026. Its 23 June first-water report explicitly describes construction, hydraulic testing and progressive interface validation rather than final acceptance or commercial operation.

Why it matters

This is a rare public evidence chain from Pacific intake works to a reservoir above 3,000 m. First water proves route continuity, but operations depend on accepted product-water quality, continuous three-stage pumping, power reliability, intake and brine-return availability, distribution to Radomiro Tomic, Chuquicamata and Ministro Hales, and the handoff between Aguas Horizonte's BOOT operation and Codelco's distribution responsibility.