Chile implements its National Data Center Plan: Key points
Chile has begun implementing its National Data Center Plan, which aims to strengthen the country’s data center industry while reducing environmental impact.
Among other things, the implementation framework includes the creation of a Multi-Stakeholder Committee, which will be tasked with coordinating state departments, civil society, and the private sector to promote sustainable, efficient, and interconnected data center development within Chilean territories.
Below, we outline the plan’s key objectives and initiatives.
National Data Center Plan objectives
The National Data Center Plan aims to:
1. Promote the growth of Chile’s data center industry through clarification of existing regulations and regulatory processes
2. Promote a decentralized data center industry that leverages renewable energies and minimizes socio-environmental impact
3. Strengthen the country's research and development (R&D) capabilities and data technology
Key measures
According to the plan, the Chilean government will:
1. Organize a Multi-Stakeholder Committee aimed at enhancing data center development
A Multi-Stakeholder Committee will be tasked with coordinating state departments, civil society, and the private sector to craft strategies for sustainable, efficient, and interconnected data center development within Chilean territories.
2. Create a digital tool for organic and balanced industry growth
A digital tool, developed in alignment with Chile’s Geospatial Data Infrastructure framework (IDE Chile), will integrate information on energy availability, suitable land use, connectivity, and socio-environmental variables across the country. The guide tool will include visual mapping of electrical substations, fiber optic networks, and land use distribution, allowing users to identify areas of interest for expansion.
3. Publish guidance on data center construction permits
The government will publish a reference guide outlining necessary permits and regulatory processes for the construction and management of Chilean data centers. The government will periodically modify the guide based on changing regulations.
4. Publish guidance on the environmental evaluation of data center projects and deliver related training
A separate guidance document will outline standardized technical criteria for evaluating data center projects using the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA, for its Spanish abbreviation). The government will also launch data center internships and workshops aimed at training industry professionals on environmental assessment criteria.
5. Establish Clean Production Agreements aimed at reducing environmental impact
The Chilean government will enter into Clean Production Agreements (CPAs) with data center industry stakeholders to help enhance resource efficiency and minimize environmental impact. CPAs are voluntary arrangements between the government and industry sectors that set sustainability targets for companies.
6. Implement a national multicloud service
In compliance with digital government standards and Law 21.180 on Digital Transformation of the State, the Chilean government will launch a state multicloud model, allowing public companies to more securely access and manage their cloud services.
7. Develop a comprehensive strategy for data center workforce development
As part of a coordinated public-private strategy, the government will launch technical training programs tailored to industry personnel and public officials responsible for project evaluation and oversight, among other workforce development initiatives.
8. Establish regional AI training campuses
The government will establish regional technology campuses focused on AI training infrastructure throughout Chile. It will select campus locations based on the availability of renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, pumping, geothermal, and concentrated solar power.
9. Establish agreements to designate AI computational capacity to R&D projects
Agreements between the Chilean government and data storage and processing technology companies will designate a portion of those companies’ AI and high-performance computing infrastructure capacity for R&D projects.
For more information, please contact the authors.
