BUENOS AIRES, (Reuters) – Argentina yesterday threatened to nationalize utility companies Edenor and Edesur after power outages blanketed large swaths of the capital and surrounding suburbs just ahead of the South American summer.
“If they are not willing to give people the service they deserve, we will be willing to take over that service,” said cabinet chief Jorge Capitanich.
Edesur is controlled by Endesa SA, a subsidiary of Italy’s biggest utility, Enel SpA. Edenor is owned by the Argentine company Pampa Energia . Shares of Edenor ended 15.1 percent lower at 2.3 pesos in Buenos Aires on Thursday.
The government of President Cristina Fernandez has expropriated several companies during her six years in office, including a water company, the oil company YPF and the country’s biggest airline, Aerolineas Argentinas.
“Just as we did with Aerolineas Argentinas … and YPF, we will not hesitate to make the decisions required if the companies Edenor and Edesur do not restore electrical supplies immediately,” Planning Minister Julio de Vido was quoted as telling the state news agency Telam.
The companies could not immediately be reached for comment.
The energy sector in Latin America’s third-biggest economy has been beset by limp private investment and surging demand.
Many analysts say government-imposed energy prices, held nearly flat since the country’s 2001-02 financial crisis despite high inflation, have hurt the sector.
