British expertise and services can boost Chile’s
ambitions to develop its renewable energy capability
Chile is one of the UK’s most important trading partners
in Latin America and a fellow member of CPTPP
Exports Minister has today [12/12/2023] landed
in Santiago, Chile where he is leading a trade mission of British
hydrogen and renewable energy companies to match them with
business opportunities in the country.
The businesses will be introduced to key Chilean developers and
prospective customers at a showcase event hosted in Santiago. The
Minister will also be meeting with Chilean developers to better
understand their needs and promote how British companies can meet
these.
will meet with Chilean
Minister for Energy Diego Pardow, and Minister for Economy
Nicolás Grau, to discuss how Chile and the UK can work together
to boost trade and support the transition to renewable energy
sources.
Minister for Exports Malcolm Offord said:
With Chile’s ambition to boost its renewable energy
infrastructure, and the UK’s expertise and capabilities in this
field, there is a clear opportunity for both our countries to
benefit and prosper.
Chile is one of our most important trading partners in Latin
America and with our upcoming accession to CPTPP I want to see
trade between us boosted even further.
The trade agreement with Chile was particularly important to the
UK, being the first one signed in 2019. With the UK joining the
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific
Partnership (CPTPP) of which Chile is a member, this trading
relationship will continue to grow with businesses in both
countries being able to choose the most beneficial agreement to
trade under.
Total trade in goods and services between the UK and Chile in the
last year grew by over 13%, reaching £1.9bn. The UK government
aims to continue to grow this trading partnership, particularly
by supporting Chile to harness its potential in renewables,
including low carbon hydrogen, with the world leading expertise
from UK companies.
CPTPP will cut tariffs for goods exporters and provide new
opportunities and improved access for services industries,
enhancing the bilateral relationship in key sectors such as
energy and infrastructure services.
Chile is a key player in the global race to decarbonise, holding
huge reserves of copper and lithium, as well as leading the
region in renewable energy development. That’s why so many UK
companies are eager to do business in the energy and
infrastructure sectors.
Patricio Maguire, Director of Turner and Townsend Chile
said:
Chile and UK share a long history of cooperation. Green hydrogen
and carbon capture industries are another examples of new areas
of integration. While Chile has a vast stock of clean energy
resources and a mature industrial environment, UK is a leading
actor in the decarbonisation industry and, in particular, offers
top notch technologies in electrolysis for H2 production.
As the local branch of a global UK-based consultancy firm, we, at
Turner & Townsend are proud to be part of the energy
transition industry and look forward to continue to provide our
expertise and global footprint at the service of their actors.
Tom Wills, Development Director at Voar Energy
said:
We are delighted to be participating in this UK trade mission at
such an important moment in Chile’s energy transition.
Chile is set to be a world leader in green hydrogen and at Voar
we’re keen to develop relationships with others active in that
area, with a particular focus on Power-to-X projects in remote
locations and green bunkering / fuel systems for ships.
Agustin Lopez Munell, CEO of Desitec who are moving their
HQ from Argentina to the UK said:
We are honoured to join the Renewable Energy Trade Mission to
Chile. This mission perfectly aligns with our goals to expand our
innovative sensor technology into new markets as we transition
our headquarters from Argentina to UK, specifically London or
Edinburgh. Our goal is to continue educating ourselves about
hydrogen and to seek partners with whom we can collaborate on our
developments.
