Madrid, 20 December 2011.- Elecnor, in a consortium with Companhia Paranaense de Energia (Copel), has been awarded two contracts in the most recent round of power transmission tenders made by the Brazilian Electrical Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Elecnor owns 51% of the consortium while Copel owns the remaining 49%.

The first contract, awarded for a project in the state of Paraná, comprises a 230 kilovolt transmission line covering 136 km and two substations with capacities of 400 and 300 MVA respectively. The contract represents an investment of around 162 million Brazilian reals (about 67.5 million euros), to be financed both by capital contributions and by long-term non-recourse debt. Construction costs will total 135 million Brazilian reals, equivalent to 56 million euros. The project will be completed in 24 months and is directly expected to generate 1,205 new jobs.

The other contract, the second largest of all the projects put out to tender, is a 365 kilometre 500 kilovolt transmission line in the state of Maranhao. This contract represents an investment of approximately 290 million Brazilian reals (121 million euros), with construction costs totalling approximately 265 million reals (110 million euros). Completion will again take 24 months and an estimated 1,805 new jobs will be directly created.

Elecnor will be 100% responsible for the construction of both projects. 

The two operator contracts will last for 30 years and form part of the Growth Acceleration Programme implemented by the Brazilian government with the aim of improving the quality and reliability of the country’s electricity supply.

This new investment further strengthens Elecnor’s growth in the energy operator sector, in line with the company’s strategic objectives. It also serves to consolidate its presence in the electricity transmission sector in Brazil, in which it already forms part of 10 operator companies with a total of 9,140 MVA capacity and 3,734 kilometres of line built, including these two new projects.