Southern Energy Inc. (formerly Southern Electric International) has appointed Mark S. Lynch chief executive of EDELNOR, the electric utility serving northern Chile. Southern Energy, a unit of Southern Company, is majority owner of EDELNOR.

Lynch, 43, previously served as Southern Energy`s vice president for construction and project development, responsible for directing the company`s worldwide construction activities and overseeing the development of new power-plant development projects.

EDELNOR (Empresa Electrica del Norte Grande S.A.) owns and operates about 250 megawatts of electric generating capacity, with another 150 megawatts under construction, and the electric transmission system serving northern Chile, which includes a rapidly expanding copper-mining industry. About half of EDELNOR`s electricity is sold to copper-mining companies and half is sold to local electric distribution companies under contract. Southern Energy, through an affiliate, owns 65 percent of EDELNOR.

Prior to being named vice president for construction and project development, Lynch was project director for a Southern Energy power-plant development project in Indonesia and for Southern Energy`s Birchwood Power Facility, a coal-fired cogeneration plant under construction in Virginia.

Lynch joined Southern Energy in 1988 after several years in the engineering and power plant construction business. He holds a bachelor`s degree in electrical engineering from Villanova University.

"Mark Lynch brings extensive commercial experience and technical expertise to EDELNOR," said Richard J. Pershing, senior vice president for Southern Energy`s international business operations. "His experience and leadership qualities make him ideally suited to lead EDELNOR as its chief executive officer."

Southern Energy, a unit of Southern Company, develops, builds, owns and operates power production and delivery facilities and provides a broad range of technical services to utilities and industrial companies in the U.S. and international markets. The company recently changed its name from Southern Electric International to better reflect the broadening scope of its energy-related businesses.

Southern Company (NYSE: SO), the largest producer of electricity in the United States, is also the parent firm of five electric utilities: Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power and Savannah Electric. Other subsidiaries include Southern Communications Services, Southern Development and Investment Group, Southern Nuclear and Southern Company Services. Together, these companies make up one of the largest electric utility groups in the United States. Southern Company`s common stock is one of the 20 most widely held corporate stocks in America.