The company will accept bids through 12 February, and plans to award the EIS in March following a study and analyses period.

The project would span seven regions, each of which would have a different level of complexity and unique environmental characteristics. Transelec plans to submit the EIS to environmental authority Conama at the end of 2007.

The transmission project has roughly a US$1.5B price tag and is being headed up by Spanish power company Endesa and local generator Colbún.

For more information, visit www.transelec.cl