China intends to invest in energy transmission in Brazil
10/14/2010 15h14
China intends to invest in energy transmission in Brazil
Folha de S. Paulo
After taking the first step in the Brazilian electric sector through the purchase of seven energy concessionaires, China now wants to invest in the transmission and generation sectors, said yesterday in Beijing the General Director of the Aneel (National Agency of Electric Energy), Nelson Hübner. On the Brazilian side, the main interest lays in the import of Chinese technology in lines of transmission for long distances, considered cutting edge. In Brazil, the lines get to 600 KV (kilovolts) in direct current, while China is the only country to achieve a 1,000 KV standard.That technology, explains Hübner, is the most effective to cover distances of up to 2,000 km - like Brazil, several of the important Chinese energy producing centers are far from the main consumer markets. This way, a Chinese transmission line can replace four more conventional lines.The potential for use of the Chinese technology lies primarily on projects in the Amazon region that concentrates the large investments in the sector. That is the case of the Belo Monte (PA) plant, whose bidding for transmission of energy should take place next year. On the other hand, the Aneel wants to impose conditions, such as the transfer of technology, in a model similar to that adopted by China for the multinationals in the country. "It is not interesting for us to buy a technology only the Chinese have and be on their hands. We are discussing a lot with them the possibility of them taking the manufacturing of equipment. We want to use with them the same policies they use with our companies", said Hübner, in an interview at the Brazilian Embassy in Beijing.The General Director of the Aneel also sees difficulties of having the Chinese understand the Brazilian model concession and obtain updated information. As an example, he said that during meeting yesterday with the Chinese Minister of Energy, Zhang Guobao, he showed interest in the bidding for the construction of the Belo Monte plant, whose result was announced six months ago, in April. Hübner says that in the area of generation, the Chinese have shown interest in investing mainly in wind energy and that conversations are already taking place with Eletrobras. In May, the Chinese State-owned giant Grid announced the purchase of seven concessionaires in Brazil for R$ 3.1 billion (US$ 1.82 billion). The deal was considered a test to get to know the Brazilian market.
