Chile suffered a massive blackout on Tuesday that left the country almost completely without electricity or connection for more than eight hours. It was the largest blackout in 15 years in Chile, comparable only to the one that occurred after the 2010 earthquake. The interruption of the power supply led the Government to declare a state of emergency and a nighttime curfew, highlighting the country's vulnerability in this privatized sector.
The failure in one of the transmission lines at 3:16 PM local time left 98% of Chile in the dark, from the region of Arica to Los Lagos, over an extension of 2,400 kilometers. This was due to a disconnection in a 500 kV line between Vallenar and Coquimbo, owned by the Colombian company ISA Interchile. The blackout severely affected the population, forcing the closure of banks, businesses, and shops, and causing traffic congestion, especially in Santiago.
The electricity supply was gradually restored during the early hours of Wednesday. In Chile, the electricity sector has been mostly privatized since the Pinochet era, with the National Electric System as the main supplier, serving 98% of the population. In recent years, Chile has experienced several similar blackouts, such as in 2010 and 2011, as well as one last July that affected Santiago for weeks.
President Gabriel Boric blamed the private sector for the blackout and stated that the situation should have been resolved earlier. Energy Minister Diego Pardow announced an investigation into the failure at ISA Interchile and other possible responsibilities. For its part, ISA Interchile dismissed that the failure was due to deliberate acts and claimed to have restored the service quickly.
