José Miguel Bustamante
Partnerjmbustamante@carey.cl
+56 2 2928 2211
Partner of Carey and co-head of the firm’s Energy Group. His practice focuses on energy regulatory matters, development of energy projects of a diverse nature, such as generator plants, transmission facilities, infrastructure works and green hydrogen projects, including contracts for the supply of electricity, liquid fuels, natural gas, NCRE accreditations, use of transmission systems, gas transportation, engineering and construction of energy infrastructure, assets, land use, permits, environmental matters and litigation related to regulatory matters of the energy and infrastructure industry, and civil law.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Celeo Redes and APG Energy & Infra Investments on the acquisition of 100% of Colbún Transmisión, a Colbún subsidiary and one of the largest transmission companies in Chile for USD1.3 million. With this acquisition, Celeo Redes increases significantly its transmission assets under operation and maintenance in Chile.
- Atlas Renewable Energy on the negotiation of a PPA with Engie that will allow Atlas to build a 270 MW photovoltaic solar power plant; and on the negotiation of another 1.0 TWh/year PPA with Enel, enabling Atlas the development and construction of three wind farms.
- Asociación Gremial Transmisores de Chile (Chilean association of transmission companies) on the constitution and drafting of its bylaws.
- Pattern Energy on all matters related to project development and energy commercialization.
- Codelco on PPAs with: (i) Norgener to supply Ministro Hales and Radomiro Tomic mining divisions with 200MW; (ii) with Engie to supply Chuquicamata and Minera Gaby. Also, on the negotiation of: (i) natural gas supply agreements with GasValpo and Endesa for El Teniente, Ventanas, Chuquicamata and Radomiro Tomic mining divisions; and (ii) liquid fuel supply agreements with Shell, Petrobras and Terpel for USD380 million per year.
- SunEdison on the negotiation of a PPA, interconnection agreement and related contracts with CAP to connect a PV solar power project of 100MW of installed capacity.
- Acciona Energía on the sale of energy to Colbún, generated by Punta Palmeras wind farm, which has an installed capacity of 47MW.
- Proyectos Ecosolar Chile and Danish Climate Investment Facility (DCIF) on the acquisition of two photovoltaic projects of 3MW each.
- Terna on a tender process carried out by Enel Green Power for the construction of a transmission line of 220Kv to evacuate the energy of the first Geothermal project in Chile.
- The Ministry of Energy and various stakeholders on different bills and CDEC-SING regarding its role and responsibilities.
- Minera Sierra Gorda on negotiations for the use of transmission facilities and litigation matters.
- CBRE Chile on the tender process for the supply of energy to 40 commercial buildings under the management of CBRE Chile.
- Fotowatio Renewable Ventures on public tenders for the sale of electric power and on the development of its generation plants.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
- Named Lawyer of the Year in Chile in Energy & Natural Resources: Electricity & Gas, Legal 500 (2023).
- Recognized in Energy & Natural Resources, Chambers Latin America.
- Recognized in Energy and Project Finance and Infrastructure, Latin Lawyer 250.
- Recognized in Project Development, IFLR1000.
- Recognized in Energy - Oil & Gas, Lexology Index.
- Recognized in Energy, LACCA.
- Recognized in Oil and Gas, Energy, Natural Resources and Project Finance and Development, Best Lawyers.
- Recognized in Project Financing, Leaders League.
- Recognized in Energy and Natural Resources, Top Ranked Legal.
- Named Lawyer of the Year in Chile in Energy, Best Lawyers (2022).
ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS
- Advisor of the Chilean Association of Renewable Energies and Storage (ACERA).
- Co-writer of the SIC-SING interconnection bill, approved as the Law N° 20,726 (2013).
- Member of the writing committee of the Public Electric Highway, presented to the Congress by president Sebastián Piñera (2012).
- Member of the Energy Ministry’s writing committee for the NCRE bill (Law N° 20,698) (2010).
- Lawyer, GasAtacama, on the development and implementation of the legal strategies for several electricity and gas projects; on the negotiation and extension of electric supply and gas supply contracts, on its transportation, on industrial construction contracts; on the proceeding and obtention of electric, mining and gas transportation concessions, and on litigation for easement of access, and on project finance (1999-2007).
- Member of the Chilean Bar Association.
PUBLICATIONS
- Co-author of Electricity Projects & Regulations, Latin Lawyer (2016-2017).
RELATED AREAS
EDUCATION
- Law, Universidad Diego Portales.
- Degree in Administrative Economic Law: Competitive and Regulated Markets, Universidad Católica de Chile (2006).
ADMISSIONS
- Chile (1999).
LANGUAGES
- Spanish.
- English.
