RISE Chile: Integrated Infrastructure Assessment and Strategic Roadmap for Critical Mineral Value Ch

1. BACKGROUND & CONTEXT

The global shift toward a low-carbon economy is driving a fundamental paradigm change from a fuel-intensive to a mineral-intensive energy system. To achieve Net-Zero Emissions by 2050, the world must rapidly scale the production of critical minerals essential for renewable electricity, transport electrification, and industrial decarbonization. Chile plays a systemic role in global green supply chains, holding the world’s largest copper reserves and second-largest lithium reserves. However, expanding and decarbonizing its mineral output faces critical, interconnected infrastructure constraints across key mining regions, in the water, energy and transport sectors. To address these challenges, the World Bank is spearheading the Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement (RISE) Alliance . Within this initiative, the RISE Chile program builds upon lessons learned from similar regional diagnostics (ie. ongoing RISE Argentina program) to conduct an integrated, cross-sectoral assessment and deliver an actionable investment roadmap for mining-enabling infrastructure.

2. OBJECTIVE & SCOPE OF CONSULTING SERVICES

Primary Objective The main objective of this consulting assignment is to conduct an integrated, cross-sectoral diagnostic of the water, energy, and transport and logistics infrastructure supporting Chile’s critical mineral value chains (2027–2050), and to formulate a prioritized, multi-sectorial Strategic Investment Roadmap accompanied by a standardized Spatial Geodatabase (GIS) and policy/governance recommendations. Scope of Consulting Services The Consultant shall execute six interconnected, parallel technical tasks over an estimated 6-month period: - Task 1: National Baseline, Critical Mineral Pipeline, and Multi-Sector Demand Modeling: Compile existing official diagnostics ( State of the Art ), georeference active, brownfield, and greenfield critical minerals project pipelines, and model spatially disaggregated, multi-temporal resource demand projections (2027–2050) for process water, continuous electrical power, and freight cargo flows. - Task 2: Water Security, Desalination Infrastructure, and Shared Water Systems: Evaluate multi-user desalination corridors, municipal wastewater reuse, advanced internal recirculation, localized water swap, and high-altitude pumping across key mining regions; evaluate the economic, operational, and energy integration dynamics of long-distance seawater conveyance to high-altitude mining operations; formulate public policy guidelines, governance structures, and risk-mitigation frameworks designed to incentivize collaborative infrastructure development and mobilize private capital into shared water assets; establish operational, financial, and institutional linkages between industrial water supply systems and local territorial needs to strengthen community water security, support rural sanitation, and foster long-term social license. - Task 3: Energy Infrastructure, Grid Decarbonization, and Power Resilience: Identify high-voltage transmission grid bottlenecks (SEN), congestion risks, and grid expansion priorities; map solar and wind resource potential in proximity to mining operations and analyze requirements for BESS and hybrid storage requirements for 24/7 renewable supply; assess technological pathways for heavy haulage fleet decarbonization; estimate CAPEX/OPEX requirements across all proposed interventions and project Scope 1 and 2 carbon footprint reduction trajectories. - Task 4: Multimodal Transport Networks, Port Infrastructure, and Border Crossings: Formulate origin-destination freight flow matrices and evaluate modal split scenarios between road, rail, and maritime cabotage; evaluate the physical condition, traffic capacity, heavy vehicle stress, and climate vulnerability of primary road corridors; assess track infrastructure capacity, rolling stock availability, and concession frameworks across primary freight railway lines; and evaluate handling capacities, landside accessibility, and customs facility operational performance at major Pacific port terminals and Andean border crossings. - Task 5: Strategic Financing, Investment Instruments, and De-Risking Frameworks: Review Chile’s legal, fiscal, and institutional financing instruments for public and shared infrastructure, and identify high-level public-private financing options, de-risking tools, and revenue mechanisms designed to mitigate off-taker risks and enhance project bankability. - Task 6: Integrated Investment Roadmap, Governance, and Spatial Geodatabase Consolidation: Synthesize cross-sectorial synergies, establish a prioritized multi-temporal CAPEX/OPEX national investment pipeline, formulate high-level governance and regulatory recommendations, and deliver a fully documented, multi-layered Spatial Geodatabase (GIS). Stakeholder Engagement and Governance The Consultant shall execute a structured stakeholder engagement process featuring core participatory validation workshops. Consultant Profile The World Bank now invites eligible consulting firms to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested firms must provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the assignment. The core team shall comprise senior experts in mining demand modeling, water systems and desalination, power grid transmission, freight transport logistics, PPP/infrastructure finance, and GIS/spatial analysis [1] . [1] Key Experts’ CVs are not required and will not be evaluated at this stage

Procurement number: 0002024061. Expressions of interest are submitted through the World Bank Group's eProcure (RFx Now) portal, which requires vendor registration.