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Colombia senator seeks to prevent privatization of the country’s main energy supplier

by Oliver Griffin

A Colombian senator is part of a committee to prevent the privatization of ISAGEN, Colombia’s main energy supplier.

Jorge Robledo is part of the Committee for the Defense of ISAGEN, which was formed on Thursday to prevent the full privatization of the energy producer.

At present the government owns a 57.6 % stake in the company but hopes to generate $2.4 billion for infrastructure development in Colombia.

MORE: Colombia seeks to sell Isagen stake, hopes to generate $2.4B for infrastructure

Senator Robledo, a vocal critic of the Santos administration, is one of the founding members of the committee and sits alongside a group of academics, politicians and trade union leaders. As a prolific tweeter he has taken to social networking sites to promote the cause of saving ISAGEN:

The committee, which is endorsed by the organisation Tax Justice for Colombia, is preparing to raise further awareness about the proposed sell off and prepare a course of legal action against the government. The committee hopes that this will prevent the privatization of ISAGEN and maintain its status as a state owned company.

Tax Justice for Colombia also took to twitter, claiming that “since the start of the privatization of the energy sector, electricity prices have increased beyond inflation.” They also accused the government of trying to “trick people into thinking that if ISAGEN is not sold, state infrastructure will continue to lag behind.”

The Finance Ministry announced on August 13 that “several companies had expressed interest in purchasing ISAGEN” which would increase the amount that the government could sell their share for.

Finance Minister Mauricio Cardenas’ insisted in a statement that “after selling, the company would be fully checked and subject to all the usual regulations,” but campaigners have not been reassured.

The first round of privatization was due to commence on Friday with first offers going to ISAGEN employees, but selling was delayed to the following week due to Cardenas’ trip to Chile.

Sources