Enel S.p.A.

The Chilean unit of U.S.-based AES closed a coal-fired power plant along Chile's central Pacific coast on Tuesday ahead of schedule amid a drive by the South American nation to end carbon emissions from its grid.

Italian energy group Enel said on Tuesday the South African unit of its Enel Green Power division had reached commercial operation on its 140 MW Nxuba wind farm in Eastern Cape province.

Italy's biggest utility Enel kicked off the sale of up to 50% of fast broadband company Open Fiber to Australian infrastructure fund Macquarie on Thursday, in a move that could open the way to the creation of a full-fiber national network.

Italian utility Enel is expected at a board meeting on Thursday to kick off a process to sell all or part of its stake in fast broadband company Open Fiber to Australian investment fund Macquarie, three sources close to the matter said.

Italian energy group Enel and defence company Leonardo have signed a letter of intent for a strategic collaboration focused on security, energy efficiency, satellite communications and electric mobility, they said on Monday.

Enel's head said on Tuesday it could be the right time for the Italian utility to exit broadband operator Open Fiber as an offer by Australian fund Macquarie gives the group a big opportunity to monetise its investment.

Europe's biggest utility Enel will spend 160 billion euros ($190 billion) over the next 10 years to become a green "super major" and make the company carbon-free by 2050.

* Italy wants Open Fiber to merge with TIM's landline grid (Recasts, adds details, background)

Italy's Enel <ENEI.MI> is close to clinching a deal to sell its stake in fast broadband operator Open Fiber to Australian fund Macquarie and state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), three sources close to the matter told Reuters.

Europe's biggest utility Enel <ENEI.MI> has lifted its 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target to 80% from 70%, it said on Friday.

Italy's Enel is set to be the first of Europe’s big utilities to launch new digital banking services this month that will allow customers to open a current account with a debit card to pay energy bills and access other financial services.

Italy's Enel <ENEI.MI> plans to team up with Chilean power company AME and others to install a pilot project to produce green hydrogen in Chile, the utility said on Friday.

Europe needs to develop a green hydrogen industry jointly, as it did with the Airbus <AIR.PA> project, if it is to become a competitive business, the head of Europe's biggest utility Enel <ENEI.MI> said on Tuesday.

Enel has received a bid from Macquarie for its stake in Open Fiber valuing the group at more than 7 billion euros ($8.3 billion), signaling strong interest from big funds for Rome's plans for a national broadband network.

Rome would welcome Macquarie buying a stake in Italy's Open Fiber as long as it fits with plans to form a national broadband champion, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Rome would welcome Macquarie buying a stake in Italy's Open Fiber as long as it fits with plans to form a national broadband champion, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Macquarie is set to submit a binding offer for all or part of the 50% stake held by utility Enel <ENEI.MI> in Italian broadband network operator Open Fiber, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

Infrastructure fund Macquarie is preparing a binding offer for Enel's <ENEI> 50% stake in broadband joint venture Open Fiber, Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore said on Friday.

Latin American fibre optic network company Ufinet, owned by Enel and private equity firm Cinven, has made a non-binding offer for the fibre unit of Brazil's Oi, two sources familiar with the matter said.