In May 2017, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House), citing Diario Financiero, reported that nine consortia were competing for a seawater desalination plant in Chile's Atacama region. State utility Econssa had launched the tender in March 2017. The reverse osmosis plant was to grow in three phases (39,000, 39,000 and 26,000 m³/day) to 104,000 m³/day for Copiapó, Caldera, Chañaral and Tierra Amarilla. Estimated cost was 250 million US dollars, 100 million for phase one. Bids were due in August, with an award expected late in 2017.
The report showed lively competition for a state desalination project in Chile. Phased expansion tied the investment to the growing demand of the towns served.