South American nation vote followed New York City mayoral election….and shifting further left for Chile….is not guaranteed after adding together all right-leaning votes in yesterday’s first round….runoff vote planned for next month.
Elections held Sunday (Yesterday).
Source: Atlantic Council
Reuters: Chilean leftist Jara narrowly leads far-right’s Kast in first round presidential vote – https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chilean-right-wing-eyes-return-power-crime-migration-dominate-election-2025-11-14/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Context unchecked:
Chile is planning so many hydrogen plants because it is trying to position itself as one of the world’s lowest-cost, largest producers of green hydrogen. The strategy comes from a mix of geography, economics, and policy ambition:
🌞 1. Some of the best renewable energy resources on Earth
Chile has:
Atacama Desert → the highest solar radiation anywhere on the planet. Patagonia & Magallanes → world-class, constant winds (70%+ capacity factors).
This means Chile can produce extremely cheap renewable electricity — which is the main cost in green hydrogen. Lower electricity cost → lower hydrogen cost.
Chile’s government estimates it could produce among the world’s cheapest green hydrogen, potentially under $1.50/kg in the long run.
🚢 2. Perfect geography for exporting energy
Chile has long coastlines and existing port infrastructure.
Hydrogen can be exported as:
ammonia methanol synthetic fuels
Asia (Japan/Korea) and Europe (Germany/Netherlands) have all signed agreements with Chile for future supply.
🧭 3. National strategy to replace copper as an export pillar
Copper has always dominated Chile’s economy, but:
ore grades are falling mining emissions are under pressure the country wants a new “resource boom” that is clean
Hydrogen is seen as Chile’s next major export, potentially matching or surpassing mining revenue in the 2040s if global demand materializes.
🏭 4. Attracting foreign investment
Big developers — from Europe, the U.S., China, and the Middle East — are interested because:
Chile can host gigantic renewable hubs land availability and permitting are easier than in Europe long-term PPAs (power-purchase agreements) are possible Chile is politically stable by regional standards
Multiple multi-billion-dollar mega-projects have been proposed in Magallanes, where wind is extraordinary.
🔌 5. Chile wants hydrogen for domestic decarbonisation
Besides exporting, Chile wants to use green hydrogen to clean up:
mining trucks (massive diesel consumers) heavy industry fertilizers long-haul transport synthetic fuels for shipping & aviation
These sectors are hard to electrify directly.
🎯 6. A government target to be a global top-3 supplier
Chile’s official Green Hydrogen Strategy (2020, updated since) outlines:
5 GW of electrolysis capacity by 2025–2030 25 GW+ by 2040 becoming one of the three largest global exporters
Even if only a portion is built, it’s still huge relative to the country’s size.
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