Ratings agency Fitch believes that Chilean energy companies will likely be able to absorb losses resulting from the earthquake and tsunami that hit the central-south region of Chile on February 27.
 
Industry profitability ratios, however, may be moderately affected during the next few quarters, the ratings agency said in a research note.
 

Chilean generator Endesa Chile's 128MW Bocamina I thermo plant will be offline for at least 60 days due to structural damage caused by the February 27 earthquake that rocked central and southern Chile, the generator said in a letter to the country's securities regulator.

Chilean generator Colbún suffered only minor damages to its facilities from the massive earthquake that hit Chile last week and expects all repairs to be completed shortly, the company said in a statement to securities regulator SVS.
 

Arlington, VA, March 3, 2010 - The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) today provided an update on its operations in Chile following the earthquake on February 27, 2010.  AES Gener, a 71 percent owned subsidiary of AES Corporation, continues to meet 100 percent of its current energy obligations in Chile.
 

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. "
 

Chile's power grid continues to be fragile after the massive 8.8-magnitude quake that killed over 700 people in the early hours of February 27, energy minister Marcelo Tokman said at a press conference in Santiago.