MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile expands Antarctic base .

Three years and almost three million US dollars will demand the expansion and improvement of one of Chile's oldest Antarctic bases. Most of the work and new infrastructure in the Bernardo O'Higgins base will be carried out by the Chilean Army beginning this next season. The barracks area which covers 1,200 square meters, will be expanded to 1,700 square meters, increasing permanent accommodation capacity from 18 to 28, plus the summer population mostly scientists. According to Commander Hernan Solari, head of the project, some of the Bernardo O'Higgins buildings date back to 1948, and "the new extension will be built following strict environmental standards and appropriate architectural design". During the first stage in the coming season 2001/2002, a gymnasium will be built together with an extensible mechanical ramp to facilitate loading and unloading containers from Chilean Navy supply vessels. The following season, 2002/2003, will see the construction of the main block of the base together with a desalinization plant to provide fresh water, the energy supply equipment and a special system to treat sewage. Bernardo O'Higgins base is located in the Schmidt peninsula, Covadonga sound and 100 miles south of another Chilean base, Presidente Frei Montalva.

Gasoline prices up

As of this last Monday gasoline and most fuel prices in Chile went up an average 4%. This means that 93, 95 and 97 octane petrol will cost an additional 14 to 15 pesos, reaching an average 360/370 pesos to the liter. According to ENAP, Chile's government oil company, two factors converged in the hike: the international increase of crude oil prices during the second week of August, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico which Chile uses as reference, and the strengthening of the US dollar in the Chilean market. The US dollar currently sells at 683 pesos and has been increasing consistently with the Argentine situation.

US leads arm sales

United States, Russia and France were responsible for 80% of world sales of conventional weapons to developing countries during 2000 according to a report from the US Congress. Arms sales to developing countries last year reached 36,9 billion US dollars, of