Energy Reform

President Nasry Asfura called on Congress to approve energy-sector reforms aimed at reducing financial losses at the state-run electricity utility ENEE.

ASJ, a civil-society organization, urges Congress to focus energy-sector reform solely on overhauling the state power utility ENEE to improve efficiency, reduce blackouts, and lower costs for poor households.

The National Congress has delayed debate on an energy-reform bill at the executive branch's request, deferring discussion until further notice to allow time for consensus-building.

Congressman Yuri Sabas criticized the government's energy-reform bill for lacking substantive changes, warning that ENEE could become as hollowed-out as the failed state telecom Hondutel despite holding valuable assets like major dams.

More than half of the Liberal Party's congressional members oppose energy-sector reforms being pushed by the party's legislative leader, Jorge Cálix, with lawmakers citing concerns that the proposal lacks popular support and needs deeper analysis.

The Liberal Party caucus presented a counterproposal to the government's energy-reform law, saying it includes legal safeguards and structural guarantees to benefit Hondurans while preventing what lawmakers call privatization risks to state utility ENEE.

Liberal and National Party lawmakers said they are close to agreement on energy reforms to modernize the electric system and rescue the troubled state utility ENEE, with key protections for public assets including hydroelectric dams.

Honduras is considering opening its electricity market to multiple operators in generation, distribution, transmission, and sales—similar to Costa Rica's hybrid system—to boost investment, diversify energy sources, and increase regional competition.

President Asfura said new energy legislation would allow large businesses and industries to negotiate power purchases directly with generators rather than rely solely on state supply, aiming to lower costs and attract investment.

Congress President Tomás Zambrano declared that privatization of the national electricity company ENEE is entirely off the table, saying proposed reforms to energy law aim instead to stabilize the utility's finances and resolve the country's power crisis.

Lawmakers are negotiating a bill to rescue the troubled state electrical utility ENEE and modernize its aging infrastructure, with Congress leadership saying a formal vote could come this week or next.

Congress President Tomás Zambrano called on the Liberal Party to submit its observations on a proposed reform to Honduras's electricity law, framing the modernization of the troubled state utility ENEE as urgent for all Hondurans, not just the governing party.

Honduras's Energy Ministry says 378,920 homes — about 15% of the country — lack electricity, with rural areas most affected and infrastructure investment needed to close the gap.

Congressman Rumy Bueso said the Liberal caucus rejects the government's energy reforms, arguing they weaken state utility ENEE, and will introduce a counterproposal to strengthen the public company without privatization.

The state power utility reports daily losses of L40 million (about $1.6 million) while Congress delays approval of an energy law overhaul that officials say is needed to improve efficiency, attract investment, and reduce the company's mounting debt.

The Association of Petroleum Product Distributors (Ahdippe) called on lawmakers to more carefully analyze energy-system reform proposals, citing concerns about technical losses, ENEE debt recovery, and accountability before the bill advances.

The Patriotic Solidarity Coalition has called on Congress to strengthen a bipartisan electric-sector reform bill before passage, arguing it must address structural causes of the ENEE crisis—including arrears, technical losses, and governance failures—while guaranteeing state control of the system.

Qarim Qubain, president of the Cortés Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says Congress needs more time to build consensus on controversial energy reforms, warning that prolonged electricity costs are driving away business investment.

The research organization Sendas called for energy-sector reform to be built on political independence, reduced technical losses, financial recovery, greater market competition, and accountable leadership to address ENEE's structural crisis, which cost the utility about $530 million in uncollected revenue during 2025.

Ronald Panchamé, head of the Libre congressional bloc, announced the party will present a counterproposal to the government's electric-sector reform bill currently under discussion.

The opposition Liberal Party says it will back planned overhaul of Honduras's electric sector only if the government explicitly guarantees that the state-owned ENEE will not be privatized and public assets will not be pledged as collateral.

Vice President María Antonieta Mejía has called on lawmakers to hold a technical debate on proposed reforms to the state-run electricity company ENEE, which faces losses of about 16 billion lempiras (roughly $640 million) and is hampering public investment in education and infrastructure.

Energy Minister Eduardo Oviedo says the state power utility needs at least $6 billion in coming years to improve service quality and cut losses, and he expects Congress to pass enabling reforms when lawmakers return.

Congress is set to debate a reform that would open ENEE's transmission network—the last segment still under state control—to private investment, as the Asfura government seeks to restructure the loss-making utility.

The Liberal Party introduced a counterproposal for electricity-sector reform that would restructure ENEE using state-controlled public companies instead of private commercial entities, aiming to strengthen operational efficiency while maintaining state control.

The president of Honduras's National Association of Industrialists says Congress should approve an energy-sector reform bill quickly, with a 20-year validity period, arguing that depoliticizing the issue and pursuing it on technical grounds will unlock investment and jobs.

Roberto Díaz del Valle, a leading hotel operator, says rising electricity tariffs are squeezing operating costs and threatening hotel revenues, while warning that reforms to energy law alone will not solve ENEE's crisis.

The private-sector business council estimates that power outages—averaging 21,200 hours of unmet demand annually—cost Honduras about L1.2 billion (roughly $48 million) per year in lost productivity, equipment damage, and generator expenses, while the government pushes stalled reforms to strengthen the state electricity utility.

Lawmakers remain divided on proposed reforms to Honduras's state electric utility, with some demanding modifications or deletions to specific articles and disagreement over whether modernization requires privatization.

Central Bank President Roberto Lagos said Honduras holds $11.5 billion in international reserves—enough to cover 6.7 months of imports—and projects 3.5% economic growth this year, though he cautioned that energy-sector reforms are needed to attract investment and push growth above 4%.