Wind generators look to take over Abengoa Brazil transmission lines

Starlog Enterprises

19/01/2016 15:14

By Luciano Costa 
    SAO PAULO, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Power companies with 
wind-generation capacity could take over transmission line 
projects in Brazil operated by Abengoa SA  ABG.MC  after the 
Spanish construction group's insolvency filing halted work on 
the systems. 
    Candidates include groups like Renova Energia SA  RNEW11.SA  
and CPFL Renovaveis SA  CPRE3.SA  that would lose revenue if the 
transmission lines go unfinished or remain inactive, three 
specialists with knowledge of the discussions said on Monday. 
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    Any proposal to take over Abengoa's rights would require 
approval from Brazil's electrical power regulator Aneel. 
    "Various generators are already meeting to see if they can 
make these projects viable," said consultant Barne Laureano of 
Laureano & Meirelles Engenharia. 
    Casa dos Ventos, a smaller company that does not have 
projects threatened by Abengoa's Nov. 25 insolvency filing in 
Spain, is also studying some specific Abengoa assets, according 
to the company's director of new business Lucas Araripe. 
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    He said the companies do not necessarily want to take over 
entire concession contracts, only the minimum parts needed to 
keep plants going. 
    Renova and CPFL declined to comment. 
    Enel Green Power, which has wind power installations in 
Brazil's Northeast, said in a statement it is not interested in 
Abengoa's assets but said it had participated in meetings with 
other companies that were. 
    Abengoa estimated that 1.5 gigawatts of wind generation 
capacity would be connected to transmission lines it was 
constructing. The Spanish company said in a statement it was in 
constant contact with local authorities to find a solution. 
    Efforts are focused on restarting construction on the 
projects, minimizing impacts and reaching a suitable solution 
for all stakeholders affected by the current situation, it said. 
 
 (Writing by Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli) 
 ((caroline.stauffer@thomsonreuters.com; +55 11 5644 7726; 
Reuters Messaging: 
caroline.stauffer.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: ABENGOA BRAZIL/