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 power distributor Chilectra is bringing in help from affiliate companies in Peru (Edelnor), Brazil (Ampla and Coelce) and Colombia (Codensa) to help continue restoring power service in metropolitan Santiago after a massive earthquake damaged the country's grid late last week.
 

Chilean distributor Chilectra will reconnect 30,000 additional clients on Wednesday to have 93% of its clients in metropolitan Santiago with power service by the end of the day, the company said in a statement.
 

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.
 

BNamericas energy editor Nathan Crooks was interviewed on CTV's Canada AM about the ongoing relief effort on March 2.
 
Click here to watch the interview.

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. "
 

Chilean power distributor CGE will be able to restore power to around 60% of its clients in Concepción during the next three days, local press in Chile reported.

Power service has so far has only been restored for emergency services and public lighting.

Chilean power distributor Chilectra has reconnected 89% of its distribution clients in metropolitan Santiago, the company said in a statement.

On Monday, power service was reestablished to 81,000 clients, mostly in northern parts of the city.