Honduras Affirms Public Control Over Electricity Sector Amid IMF-Linked Reforms

Central Bank of Honduras President Roberto Lagos said the electric‑sector reforms are not a condition of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme but part of the government's own roadmap to resolve the country's energy crisis. He emphasized that the IMF will only provide technical support and will not impose specific measures.

Finance Minister Emilio Hércules assured that the electricity network will remain public, with the three subsidiary companies staying fully under the control of the state-owned Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica (ENEE). Any changes to ownership must be approved by the National Congress. Lagos warned that failing to maintain fiscal discipline could pressure public finances, increase debt, and fuel inflation. ENEE General Manager Guillermo Panting highlighted ongoing efforts to improve service delivery for Honduran households.

Together, the officials presented the reforms as a strategy to restore confidence, stabilize public finances, and keep the electricity sector under national ownership.