Chile's central SIC grid is operating at 59% of normal demand, energy minister Marcelo Tokman told journalists after an emergency meeting with economic ministers and the heads of state oil company Enap, Banco del Estado and state development agency Corfo.

 
"Obviously normal demand is much higher than what we are seeing at the moment, but yes, we have better news today," Tokman said. "We are advancing rapidly towards a normal situation. In the hardest hit areas coordination has allowed great advances. "
 
Tokman also announced that main transmission lines connecting the north and south of the country had been restored.
 
"This means there is connection between Tal Tal and Chiloe," he said. "What this allows us to do is add the hydros in the south to the grid."
 
With the nation's two LNG terminals functioning and increased imports of natural gas from Argentina shoring up thermo capacity, energy supply was secure, Tokman said.
 
In the Santiago region on Tuesday, 89% of Chilean distributor Chilectra's customers had power, the company said in a statement.
 
In Constitución, power for basic services including the city's hospitals and water supply was restored by Tuesday, according to the minister.
 
"We have progressed greatly in most regions from yesterday to today," Tokman continued. "But the system remains fragile."
 
Many coastal towns hit by the tsunamis that began shortly after the earthquake at 3:30am on Saturday morning remained in perilous condition.
 
"The remote coastal zones are the most complicated areas," Tokman said. "We are still trying to figure this out. There are some areas with the entire infrastructure under water and no energy supply whatsoever."
 
By Chris Lenton / Business News Americas