Chile’s capital, Santiago, is currently battling power outages attributed to the Italian energy company Enel, the region’s main electricity supplier.
According to reports, around 20,000 households are still without electricity because power lines were severely damaged by heavy rains and strong winds in early August.
Enel struggled to restore power, and the Chilean government threatened to withdraw the company’s concession for Santiago, a city of about two million inhabitants.
The long-lasting power outage caused great outrage among the population and thousands of citizens protested for a quick solution.
Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren has instructed the ambassador in Rome to contact Enel’s representatives in Italy.
On August 2, Enel reported that 794,000 customers in Santiago were affected by power outages at their peak, mainly because fallen trees had damaged power lines. Enel supplies 2 million customers in Santiago and operates as a “regulated monopoly” in the region.
In addition, Chinese electricity distribution company CGE is also facing challenges in restoring power. Chile’s heavy dependence on foreign electricity suppliers has led to ongoing difficulties for both citizens and the government.
The country’s infrastructure has been repeatedly damaged by freak weather, leading to frequent power outages. In June, more than 400,000 residents of Santiago were affected by prolonged power outages after a fallen tree severely damaged a high-voltage pylon.
