Chile's Colbun posts Q1 loss 23.5 bln pesos

SANTIAGO, April 29 (Reuters) - Chile's second-biggest electricity generator, Colbun COL.SN, said on Tuesday it lost 23.535 billion pesos ($54 million) during the first quarter, compared to a 7.56 billion peso gain a year earlier, as costs soared.

Colbun earnings have been hurt by a short supplies of natural gas from Argentina that have forced it to use costlier fuels to generate its energy. ($1 = 437.71 Chilean pesos at the end of March) (Reporting by Antonio de la Jara; Writing by Simon Gardner)