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Located in the coastal town of Puchuncaví, in Chile’s Valparaíso Region, the Ventanas coal-fired complex is a 544-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant that currently operates two active units. Despite the role of the coal-fired complex in the region’s energy generation, it is a major contributor to air pollution, with serious implications for the public health and the environment in the coastal area of Puchuncaví and the nearby port town Quintero.
In this ground-breaking health impact assessment (HIA), the impact of the Ventanas coal-fired complex on public health and the economy has been assessed for the first time.
This report specifically assesses how emissions from the Ventanas coal-fired complex have affected air quality, public health, and the economy during its operations from 2013 to 2020.
The report finds that the complex significantly worsens air pollution, public health and the economy, especially in the area surrounding the towns of Quintero and Puchuncaví.
Pollutants including PM2.5, NO2, and SO2 were found to have high concentrations around Puchuncaví, but also affect areas up to 300 km away, including Chile’s capital city Santiago.
Over the eight-year period of 2013-2020, pollution from the Ventanas complex was associated with 563 (432–702) deaths, 1,117 (675–1,555) asthma emergency room visits, 129 (40–224) low birthweight births, 238 (164–253) preterm births, 575 (151–1,269) years lived with disability, and over 300,000 (260,832–352,044) days of work absences.
The cumulative economic burden amounted to an estimated USD 1.4 (1.1–1.8) billion, equivalent to CLP 1.3 (1.01–1.8) trillion.
