Colombian utility companies with optimum national supply and ability to expand into foreign markets are examples to others in Latin America, stated an industry specialist, financial publication Portafolio reported Sunday.
President of the National Association of Home Public Services (ANDESCO) Gustavo Galvis Hernandez, said “the entrance into the Central American market by Empresas Publicas de Medellin (EPM) and the presence of Empresas de Energia de Bogota (EEB) in Peru and Guatemala makes us stronger in this area.”
EPM bought three energy companies in Guatemala, El Salvador and Panama in February 2011. EEB won contracts to build transmission lines in Guatemala and in Peru in 2009.
Galvis Hernandez added that the Colombian electricity sector was unscathed by the El Niño and La Niña weather phenomenons, periods of extremely dry and wet weather, and electricity rationing was not necessary. However he failed to mention that power outages did occur in Cartagena in November 2010 when three electricity substations were flooded.
The official also went on to praise Colombian telecommunications and public works. “In telecommunications we have seen a noticeable increase in Internet connections with broadband offers and waterworks and sewage systems have been extended in several cities in the country.”