OREANDA-NEWS. August 17, 2011. The acquisition of projects Bertin MC2 Joinville and MC2 JJSC  Neiva projects, both granted authorizations for construction of total  680 MW capacity natural gas-fueled thermoelectric power plants, was sanctioned by the National Power Agency (Aneel). MPX will build the plants at the Parnaiba power generation complex, in the municipality of  Santo Antonio dos Lopes, inland in the state of  Maranhao. The company is planning to invest about  BRL  980 million in plant  construction, generating 1,000 job opportunities. The construction works should start shortly and by January 2013 the venture will be up and running. These plants have 15-year contracts for 450 average MW, ensuring BRL  393,5 million fixed annual revenue. MPX owns a 70% stake in the complex and partner  Petra Energia 30%.

 “The construction of these plants will be essential to assure power supply Brazil and represents a significant expansion of MPX power generation complex. The Parnaiba complex will be a major power generation center in Brazil as 3.722 MW  have already been licensed”, MPX CEO Eduardo Karrer said. The natural gas needed for plant consumption will come from region onshore blocks whose resources are estimated to reach over 11 trillion cubic feet, of which  MPX owns a 23% interest. These blocks will be operated by OGX Maranhao.

As the construction of MPX is to start in the near future, MPX has already launched an important qualification program in partnership with the National Industrial Training Service (Senai) and local city halls. Last week 198 people completed the training program offered and the target is to get this figure up to  500, thus increasing the chances of hiring local labor for energy complex works.