• Representatives of InvestChile, the General Concessions Directorate and the Justice Ministry held technical meetings with leading companies in prison management in France, the United Kingdom and Spain to learn about international experiences and promote tenders for US$700 million under the concession model.

A delegation made up of representatives from the General Concessions Directorate of the Public Works Ministry, the Justice and Human Rights Ministry and InvestChile went on a technical roadshow in Europe to present investment opportunities in prison infrastructure in Chile, within the framework of the 2022–2030 Master Plan for Prison Infrastructure.

Prison concession roadshow

From December 8 to 12, a delegation made up of professionals from the General Public Works Concessions Directorate (DGC) of the Justice and Human Rights Ministry  and InvestChile visited France, England and Spain to publicize upcoming tenders for prisons under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Participants included Patricio Álvarez, Infrastructure and Public Bidding Sector Lead at InvestChile; Juan Eduardo Chackiel, Head of the Studies and Financial Analysis Division of the DGC; Raul Torres, Head of Prison Projects for the Project Development and Bidding Division; Miguel Angel Cornejo and Rodolfo Poblete from the Budget, Planning and Infrastructure Division of the Justice and Human Rights Ministry.

Cristián Sagal, Investment Commissioner of InvestChile in France, also joined the visit to Paris.

Tenders for US$700 million and more than 12,000 new prison places

During the roadshow, the delegation held bilateral meetings with nine construction companies, concessionaires and specialized operators in the prison sector.

At these meetings, the delegation presented information on the bids planned for the 2026–2027 period, which contemplate an investment of approximately US$700 million for the construction of seven new prison centers.

These projects will incorporate more than 12,000 new places, with the option to expand depending on the availability of land, and include the Calama, Santiago 1, Alto Hospicio, La Serena, Rancagua, Puerto Montt and Valdivia facilities, in addition to the recently tendered Talca and Copiapó facilities.

Chile currently has nine prison concessions, which contribute more than 21,000 places to the prison system.

As part of the agenda in England, the delegation made a technical visit to HMP Thameside Prison, a facility operated under a 100% private operating model.

The facility, managed by the company SERCO, showed the delegation its management practices, operating standards and the concession model applied in England.

Regulatory framework to accelerate investment

The meetings also provided an opportunity to discuss recent regulatory changes that facilitate investment in prison infrastructure, specifically Law No. 21,783, which introduces measures to speed up the management of procedures and permits.

Notable among these is the elimination of the requirement for an Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA) for extensions of existing prisons, a measure that, according to estimates from the Justice and Human Rights Ministry, would reduce the development and construction time of these projects by more than 700 days.

Prison infrastructure as an investment opportunity

The roadshow in Europe is part of the 2022–2030 Master Plan for Prison Infrastructure prepared by the Government of Chile, whose objective is to expand prison infrastructure with high security and operation standards, generating attractive conditions for the participation of international investors specialized in this type of infrastructure.

InvestChile continues to actively promote these opportunities, engaging public-private partnerships and accompanying companies interested in participating in the development of strategic projects for the country.