Tractebel Energia has signed an agreement to buy the 26.6MW Rondonopolis and the 23.7MW Jose Gelazio plants in Mato Grosso state. The two plants have 20-year power supply agreements to 2027, and are near the company's recently acquired 176MW Ponte de Pedra plant.
Almost two-thirds of the purchase price was paid as equity and the balance is a net financial debt denominated in local currency. The plants have been owned by a company that is family-controlled and its strategy is to invest in other activities, IWP&DC was told.
Suez said the sale process began in April and it was notified of having the winning bid on 30 June. Subject to approval by Eletrobras, the state electricity regulator Aneel and lenders (Caixa Economica Federal, Bradesco and Banco do Brasil), Suez hopes the deal will be closed by the end of the year.
Separately, at the 1,087MW Estreito project, the Suez-led joint venture developing the scheme has secured clearance for its contractor to proceed with diversion works after winning its appeal against a legal suspension.
Last month the river diversion works were blocked by a court in Maranhao state although the rest of the construction activity was unaffected. The project is being developed by the JV concessionaire Consorcio Estreito Energia (Ceste) on the Tocantins river between the states of Tocantins and Maranhao,
The legal action was brought by the Federal Public Ministry in Maranhao state, which wants the entire Tocantins river basin to undergo environmental assessment and not only the project-related area. The Ministry had also sought suspension of the project's installation licence, without which the plant would not be able to operate.
