• A water tanker truck that will safely deliver water to residents of Caleta Los Burros, the construction of the Chañaral de Aceituno fire station, and the formalization of irrigation water rights in Carrizalillo are among the projects supported through the 2025 Community Investment Funds (FIC).


Freirina, April 2026.- The municipality of Freirina was the setting for the inauguration of the FIC 2025 projects, an initiative that reflects the collaborative work between the public sector, local communities, and the electricity generation companies present in the area. These projects seek to contribute to sustainable development and improve quality of life in the localities of Chañaral de Aceituno, Carrizalillo, Los Burros, and La Reina.

In Carrizalillo, 42 certificates formalizing surface and groundwater rights were delivered, along with the construction of restrooms for the sports club and livestock farmers, a new well for the rural drinking water system, and the delivery of a generator set for the neighborhood association.

In Caleta Los Burros, the acquisition of a water tanker truck was arranged to supply water to 45 families, in addition to the replacement of batteries and maintenance work at the neighborhood association headquarters; meanwhile, in Caleta La Reina, a seaweed shredder and dryer requested by the independent workers’ union was provided.

Finally, in Chañaral de Aceituno, the focus was on supporting the Second Fire Company, which added a new fire engine and expanded its station through the construction of a new shed.

Water Security in Carrizalillo

The formalization of water resources was one of the most significant milestones during the ceremonies, given its direct impact on the productive activities of local residents. Regarding the delivery of water rights, both surface and groundwater, Maria Fernanda Avilés, Director of the General Water Directorate (DGA) for the Atacama Region, highlighted the importance of this achievement for the community. “This public-private partnership plays a key role in achieving milestones such as the granting of these 42 water rights. While we in the public sector provide all the technical assistance required for the process, private-sector financing is essential to cover the consulting services that support residents, who would not be able to carry out these procedures on their own. This joint effort is a model that could undoubtedly be replicated in other areas of our region to continue promoting local development.”

For her part, Mirta Milla, Treasurer of the Carrizalillo Irrigators’ Association, highlighted the impact of the formalization for the community. “This progress benefits us greatly because before we irrigated informally, and now, having these rights, we can say with certainty that the water is ours and we can apply for new projects to plant our gardens.”

The Value of Shared Progress

A key element in the implementation of FIC 2025 was collaboration with communities through participatory roundtables promoted by companies such as EDF Power Solutions Chile. These spaces made it possible to identify local needs and prioritize initiatives that have now become concrete projects for communities in the territory.

Cindy Espinosa, leader of the Caleta Los Burros Sur Union, said: “This wonderful water truck is the result of long-standing work through the roundtables with the wind farms, and it will benefit not only union members, but our entire community across several kilometers. We are grateful for the companies’ efforts.”

Another focus of the FIC 2025 investment was strengthening the capabilities of the Second Fire Company of Chañaral de Aceituno, part of the Freirina Fire Department. “After years of moving from one place to another, we now have a shed that allows us to protect our equipment from coastal salt damage and centralize our resources to improve our response capacity. Thanks to the essential support of the wind farms, we have achieved investments in infrastructure and equipment that would have been very difficult to secure on our own; this brings us together as a team and requires greater training, allowing us to provide real safety and better-prepared emergency support for our entire community and nearby fishing villages,” concluded Benjamín Oyarzún, a volunteer with the company.