Salvatore Bernabei: "La transmisión de energía es el desafío verdadero"

The economic agenda this Thursday is dedicated to two very important topics: one is analyzing the central bank's interest rate decision, which we will develop in the second part of the program. Now we want to focus on the news of the day: the government's energy agenda, a long-awaited announcement that includes seven axes: strengthening the role of the state, improving transmission systems, stimulating competition, incorporating gender, clean sources, and involving communities from the start of new projects. A large number of measures that were initially well received by various actors. We want to know the impression of one of them, and that's why we have with us Salvatore Bernabei, General Manager of Enel Green Power Chile and also other Latin American countries. Salvatore, thank you for your time on Agenda Económica. Thank you very much for inviting me. As a first impression, what did you think of the energy agenda presented by the government this Thursday?

Is that a concern for Enel Green Power? And what did you think of the measures discussed, for example, a bill to improve transmission planning and finally concretize the interconnection with the Norte Grande?

You talk about the main transmission backbone of our country, but what else needs to be done? Also the secondary lines so that energy can reach, for example, from the cordillera and pass through different generation plants. That also needs to be developed and concretized.

Effectively, the energy agenda talks about generation poles. The backbone is this main transmission trunk, but we also need secondary arteries to evacuate energy. There is a coordination role to bring together different stakeholders. Nothing is said about the public electric highway project, which was one of the big stars of the previous administration. For you, is it a setback, or if it's replaced by something else, is that also good?

What is the current state of investments and development of Enel Green Power in the renewable energy field?

Something that caught my attention, Salvatore, is that various non-conventional renewables were mentioned: wind, solar, even tidal. But President Bachelet spent a lot of time on geothermal. There is talk of a bill to improve the concession system and facilitate extraction and risk sharing in exploration. Is this a powerful signal for a type of energy that has been much discussed but not advanced? Are we at a turning point for geothermal in our country?

Salvatore, also talking about a topic that concerns not only renewable energy but all sources: the relationship with communities. President Bachelet spoke of seeking agreements from the beginning, not just when the environmental impact study is approved and basically when it's too late. It is fundamental, as done in other countries, to seek agreements from the start when the project is discussed. How does Enel Green Power approach this? We are aware it is one of the main tools to develop a project. For example, we are developing the Cerro Pabellón geothermal plant in northern Chile, which is very advanced. We started the first activity in 2006, and from that date we have been in contact with communities, talking to them about local development. So we are talking about 8 years ago. You have to start very early in project development to facilitate a development that involves all stakeholders. We are glad to hear this, especially the style with which it is intended. How have the rules been with communities? It has been a worrying level. You have a very hands-on vision on this topic, not only locally. In countries where there has been early engagement, there have not been many problems with communities. If you can explain the project well, the benefits for the community, dialogue over time, in any country in the world, there are few problems. My experience says exactly that. How much can territorial planning help? Announcing that here you can do a wind farm, here a solar plant, here a geothermal plant. This geographical division also helps to avoid problems. It is important to define a zoning, as long as we then build plants where there are resources, and work jointly with the regions. As a businessman, I want to be able to talk to the municipality, the region, the local community. Involving and empowering local entities is undoubtedly a positive way to facilitate this early engagement process.

One of the main concrete measures was also to strengthen a state-owned company like ENAP so that it has a greater role in the energy system. Is that a guarantee that a state-owned company plays a preponderant role for the successful energy development of a country? Or is it not a card that ensures success?

Well, we take a pause, but we will review the main economic indicators and also see how the stock markets open this Thursday in the world. We'll be back.