News and Press Releases

National Electricity Coordinator: "Batteries are moving practically the same amount of energy as the reservoirs, and the reservoirs took 50 years"

The seminar "The power system under stress: lessons and challenges", hosted by the Colbún Chair on Responsible Energy Transition and the UC Energy Center, convened regulators, industry and academia weeks after July's supply squeeze, when weak hydro, wind and solar output combined with fuel resupply constraints prompted a preventive rationing decree that was ultimately shelved. Hernán Rodríguez flagged a hydrological year among the driest 2% on record. Ramón Castañeda put storage at roughly 5,000 MW, with 2,700 MW live, and noted up to 17% of national diesel can go to generation. Juan Eduardo Vásquez called for revisiting natural gas restrictions and six-year permitting timelines.

Colbún S.A. announces preventive spill at the Colbún Reservoir

Colbún S.A. will begin a preventive spill at the Colbún Reservoir on Thursday, August 27, at 9:00 a.m., starting with a limited flow of about 50 m3/s — roughly a 20% increase over the Maule River's current flow. With the reservoir at 98% capacity, the gradual, controlled operation is designed to free up storage ahead of rising inflows and forecast rainfall. Water released downstream will never exceed what the reservoir takes in. SENAPRED declared a Yellow Alert for San Clemente and Colbún on Tuesday the 25th, and the public is asked to stay away from the Maule's banks all the way to its mouth.

Canutillar Power Plant Supplied 33% of Los Lagos' Energy in 2025 and Was Key During the February 25 Blackout

Colbún's Canutillar Power Plant, located in Cochamó, covered 33% of the Los Lagos Region's electricity consumption in 2025 — equivalent to nearly 300,000 households — with 172 MW installed. Its role was proven during the national blackout of February 25, 2025: as one of only two power plants in the country certified for black-start capability, it was among the first to resume operation without drawing power from the grid, helping Puerto Montt restore service ahead of other cities. The precedent matters now because the CEN warned in June 2026 of a possible shortfall between November 2026 and January 2027 for the Los Ríos and Los Lagos regions. For Colbún, the case shows that supply security depends on operational flexibility, not installed capacity alone.

Colbún's renewable energy generation in Chile exceeded 70% in 2025

Colbún reported that its renewable generation in Chile hit a record 70.3% in 2025, above the 63% average for Chile's National Electric System, and that for the first time more than half of its consolidated installed capacity (Chile and Peru, 57%) is renewable. The gain rests on the Horizonte Wind Farm — the company's largest-ever investment — and on a growing base of renewable contracts, notably a 15-year, 1,100 GWh/year 100%-renewable supply deal with Codelco that avoids 266,000 tons of CO₂ annually. Since 2018 Colbún has cut its emissions factor by 41%, beating its 30% target, and it now supplies 24% of the electricity consumed by Chile's large-scale mining industry.

Colbún S.A. and Fundación Junto al Barrio are launching a new edition of the Social Development Fund for community organizations

Colbún S.A. and Fundación Junto al Barrio launched the 2026 Social Development Fund in the Maule Region as part of the "Comunidades que Transforman" program. Over 80 community leaders from San Clemente, Colbún and Yerbas Buenas attended a participatory session focused on community leadership, shared challenges and future initiatives. The fund provides up to CLP $1,000,000 per social organization plus technical support across design, application and execution. Applications run July 27–August 31, with guidelines available at www.juntoalbarrio.cl under "Nuestras Alianzas" → Colbún → Fondo de Desarrollo Social.

Colbún Launched the Tenth Winter Campaign for Its Angostura Power Plant

Colbún marks 10 years of its awareness campaign about the Angostura plant (Santa Bárbara and Quilaco, running since 2014). As a run-of-river plant with no reservoir, it opens its gates when flow exceeds 700 m³/s — a normal, planned winter operation, not an emergency. It coordinates with DMC, DGA and SENAPRED, informs 70+ stakeholders, and works with local communities to ease concerns.

Colbún Reports EBITDA of US$156.9 Million for the Second Quarter of 2026

Colbún S.A. reported 2Q26 EBITDA of US$156.9 million, up 12% from US$140.6 million a year earlier, despite rainfall deficits of up to 89% versus an average hydrological year. Generation rose 19% on the return of the Santa María plant, higher output from the Horizonte wind farm and greater dispatch at the Nehuenco gas complex, shifting the company from a net buyer to a net seller in the spot market. Revenue climbed 12% to US$449.2 million. Profit for the quarter, however, fell 24% to US$36.6 million, hit by non-recurring items — chiefly the early cancellation of coal contracts signed in 2022 — and higher financial expenses. For the first half, EBITDA was US$289.5 million (−9%) and net profit US$60.9 million, down from US$130.6 million, largely due to the TGP gas pipeline outage in March that forced Fenix onto diesel. Highlights: 68 new energy contracts in Chile (481 GWh/year), 8 in Peru (15.5 MW), and BESS Celda Solar at 94% progress with BESS Diego de Almagro Sur at 58%.

Colbún S.A. Launches Winter 2026 Safety Prevention Campaign