ISA targets Brazil in US$6bn investment plan

Colombian business conglomerate ISA will invest 26.1tn pesos (US$6.34bn) in the next six years as it prioritizes power transmission projects in Brazil, executives said on Wednesday. 

Brazil is by far the group's leading market with 52% of the projected outlay followed by Chile (18%), Colombia (15%), Peru (11%) and Panama (4%). 

Transmission projects account for 83% of the total, roads 14% and telecommunications 3%. 

"The figure is historic, it implies many challenges but we are doing very well," CEO Jorge Carrillo told investors in a quarterly earnings call.

ISA has set aside 7.0tn pesos for 2025, 7.1tn pesos for 2026, 4.8tn pesos for 2027, 3.3tn pesos for 2028 and 3.9tn pesos for 2029-30. 

It currently has 38 projects under construction, including power transmission lines totaling 5,659km and roads spanning 296km.

Carrillo said the company's transmission projects featured technological advances that facilitated the integration of intermittent renewable sources into grids. 

"We are implementing solutions with a high innovation component, for the optimization of systems, a key aspect to achieve the acceleration of the energy transition in each country where we operate," he said. 

ISA reported 2024 full-year net income of 2.8tn pesos, up 14% on 2023.