In late June, the first tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) is scheduled to arrive in Chile from Trinidad and Tobago. The shipment will be “regasified” at a plant built in Quintero, in the central region of Valparaíso. The tanker, which set sail on Jun. 8 from Port of Spain, is carrying 144,000 cubic meters of LNG, equivalent to 84 million cubic meters of natural gas.

“The government should look for incentive mechanisms for industry to change to this cleaner fuel, because today it doesn't have the legal power to demand it, except when the environmental certification resolution says so explicitly,” said Paola Vasconi, of the environmental Terram Foundation.

In addition to diversifying Chile's energy matrix, according to officials LNG will help reduce air pollution, a serious problem in Santiago.