Concessionaires reveal investment plan of US$ 10 billion for 2009
Valor Econômico 02/10/2009
The investment plans of eighteen public utility concessionaires listed in the São Paulo Stock Exchange should reach R$ 23 billion (US$ 10 billion) this year of 2009 according to data disclosed by the companies and the estimates of American bank JP Morgan. A report that has just been disclosed by the team of analysts of the bank shows that, out of that total, nearly 60% will be intended for energy generation projects. 15 out of the 18 companies make part of the energy sector and the other three are Sabesp, Copasa and Comgás. Sabesp will make investments of R$ 1.6 billion (US$ 696 million) and most of it will be invested in projects for the collection and treatment of sewage, as explains the funding manager of the company, Mário Sampaio. Nearly 80% of the funds required are already assured for the execution of the plans. Among the electricity companies, prominence is given to the plan of Eletrobrás, which alone foresees investing R$ 7.9 billion (US$ 3.4 billion), or nearly 35% of the total stipulated by the companies that integrate the survey. The state company foresees making heavy investments in generation, mainly because it is a partner of the main hydroelectric power plants currently under construction in the country, by means of its companies like Chesf, Furnas, Eletronorte and Eletrosul. After Eletrobrás the JP Morgan list points to Eike Batista's MPX Energia, the one which would invest the most this year, nearly R$ 3.2 billion (US$ 1.4 billion). The company's press office, however, informed that such amount will be invested until 2012. Throughout this year, the investments will reach R$ 1.5 billion (US$ 652 million). The projects of the company are all in generation, with thermoelectric plants and energy already sold in auctions. The company currently has no income generation because its plants are still under construction, and the main investments will be made in Pecém, where it has a partnership with EDP Energias do Brasil.