DistantNews
Support us
🇭🇳 Honduras /Elections & Politics

Honduran Congress Chief: Energy Reforms Will Improve Service, Not Privatize ENEE

From Proceso Digital · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Honduran National Congress President Tomás Zambrano reaffirmed that energy reforms aim to improve service and reduce losses at the National Electric Energy Company (ENEE) without privatization.
  • Zambrano stated that reforms, pending final debate, are necessary due to ENEE's annual losses of nearly 16 billion lempiras, which are covered by the general budget.
  • Funds from the sale of the presidential plane, approximately 137 million lempiras, must be invested exclusively in health and education, as stipulated by a legislative decree.

Honduran National Congress President Tomás Zambrano asserted that proposed reforms to the Electric Industry Law will enhance service and curb losses at the state-run National Electric Energy Company (ENEE). He emphasized that these changes do not involve privatization, aiming instead to stabilize the transmission system and reduce frequent power outages.

With that money, we could invest in roads, in health, and in education, but due to the historical mismanagement of ENEE, today the people have to cover those losses.

— Tomás ZambranoPresident of the National Congress, Tomás Zambrano, explaining the financial impact of ENEE's losses.

Zambrano highlighted the financial strain caused by ENEE's estimated annual losses of 16 billion lempiras, funds that are currently covered by the national budget. He argued that this money could otherwise be allocated to infrastructure, health, and education, but historical mismanagement of ENEE necessitates these reforms.

The reform wants to give people good service and a better price. Only this reform will be able to improve the service and also the prices of energy billing.

— Tomás ZambranoTomás Zambrano on the expected benefits of the energy reforms for consumers.

He pointed to positive results in the southern region, specifically in Choluteca and Valle, where improvements in the Agua Fría substation have reportedly reduced power disruptions. Zambrano believes the reforms will lead to better service and more affordable energy costs for consumers.

Those affirmations respond to political discourse and I reject that that is the objective of the proposal.

— Tomás ZambranoTomás Zambrano dismissing claims that the energy reforms aim to privatize ENEE.

Addressing concerns about privatization, Zambrano dismissed them as political rhetoric, stating that the goal is to improve the system. He also reiterated that the 137 million lempiras generated from the sale of the presidential plane must be invested in health and education, as mandated by a legislative decree, with the executive branch responsible for overseeing its implementation.

From the first day of the Government, it was proposed to sell the plane. It has already been sold, and those resources must be invested in health and education.

— Tomás ZambranoTomás Zambrano on the allocation of funds from the presidential plane sale.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Proceso Digital in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog