SANTIAGO, April 21 (Reuters) - Chile's CGE energy group CGE.SN said on Tuesday it would invest $240 million during 2009 in the gas and electricity sectors as the country looks to put an energy squeeze behind it.

The company also said in a statement that shareholders had approved a capital increase of around $226 million through the issuance of 44 million shares to fund new projects.

CGE, which has generation, distribution and transmission businesses throughout Chile and which also operates in a clutch of northern Argentine provinces, said it could increase the investment planned for 2009 if conditions allow it to start new projects. (Reporting by Monica Vargas)