TN PETRÓLEO

Chile`s lower house has begun to debate a bill that would create an energy ministry, the country`s national energy commission (CNE) said in a statement.

The proposed ministry would unify the country`s public policy decisions regarding energy to be made in the coming years, energy minister Marcelo Tokman said in the statement.

Pending approval, the ministry would be tasked with preparing public policy plans and regulation for the energy sector and also would prepare long-term power demand projections for the country.

In addition, the new ministry would take on tasks currently preformed by the country`s mining and finance ministries. The energy ministry, for example, would be responsible for granting natural gas and power concessions, according to the statement.

Chile`s power and fuel regulator SEC and nuclear energy commission Cchen would fall under the new ministry.

Chile`s energy ministry currently works through CNE.