Cristina Índio do Brasil
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Electrobrás - Brazilian Electric Centrals - is awaiting government authorization to start investing in partnerships with private companies abroad, the president of the company, Aloísio Vasconcelos, informs. According to Vasconcelos, a proposal is being analyzed by the Presidential Civilian Advisory Staff to submit in the form of a bill to the National Congress, defining Electrobrás' participation in the sale of engineering services and activities in the areas of consultation and monitoring.

The company president explained that three investment prospects are already in the pipeline. Electrobrás plans to join in the creation of a binational enterprise in Namibia and Angola, in Africa. The project is a power plant with the capacity to generate 560 megawatts, on the Cuneine River. The plant will be built by a consortium comprising the Brazilian firms Furnas Electric Centrals (a subsidiary of Electrobrás), Odebrecht, and Engevix. Vasconcelos estimates that the investment will total US$ 600 million.

Another project, involving an estimated investment of US$ 260 million, is a power plant, also with the capacity to generate 560 megawatts, on the Lempa River, in El Salvador, in Central America. The Andrade Gutierrez construction company will be Electrobrás' partner in this undertaking.

The third project will be the installation of a power line in Argentina. "Electrobrás is exporting technology it has acquired over a period of 44 years," Vasconcelos concluded.

Translation: David Silberstein