Energy infrastructure faces strain in Colombia and Argentina

Energy infrastructure challenges are surfacing in South America due to extreme weather and aging systems. In Montería, Colombia, Afinia, a subsidiary of Grupo EPM, reported that high energy demand overloaded the Montería 5 circuit, affecting sectors on the city's left bank. The company attributed the strain to high temperatures and the El Niño phenomenon, which increases the use of cooling appliances. Technical teams worked overnight to stabilize the system.

In Argentina, the government is planning a US$6.6 billion investment to upgrade an electrical grid that has faced significant limitations. A major failure in January 2026, caused by heatwaves in Buenos Aires, left 800,000 users without power and disrupted transport services. The lack of recent infrastructure expansions is currently hindering major economic projects, including mining investments in San Juan and energy production in Patagonia. The first phase of the new program, AMBA I, involves an US$800 million investment to construct a 500 kV line and a new station.