ContourGlobal acquires wind farms in Brazil
ContourGlobal, an international power generation company, has acquired an additional 122.6 MW of installed wind capacity in Brazil through a transaction with Casa dos Ventos.
The transaction expands ContourGlobal's operations in the attractive Chapada do Piaui wind complex located in Brazil's windy northeast adding a new 59.2 MW fully contracted wind project (Chapada III) located adjacent to its existing Chapada I and Chapada II wind farms.
Additionally, ContourGlobal has acquired Casa dos Ventos's minority interest of 5% in Chapada II and will acquire its minority interest of 15% of Chapada I as well as its minority interest of 15% in the 160 MW Asa Branca wind farm that ContourGlobal placed into operation in September 2013.
The acquisition of the interests in Chapada I and Asa Branca will close imminently upon the approval of BNDES – Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Economico e Social, who financed both projects. With the acquisition of the minority interests, ContourGlobal will own 100% of Asa Branca and Chapada III and 51% of Chapada I and II, in partnership with CHESF - Companhia Hidro Eletrica do Sao Francisco.
Ms. Alessandra Marinheiro, ContourGlobal Latam's Chief Executive Officer, stated:
We are consolidating our presence in Brazil's wind sector by adding new high quality and contracted wind farms in a market in which we have been present since 2006. The acquisition of an additional equity stake in Chapada I and II builds on the successful partnership we have with CHESF.
ContourGlobal President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph C. Brandt commented:
Brazil's well-structured commercial and legal framework for wind projects and the exceptional quality of its wind resources continue to present attractive development opportunities for us. We are especially pleased to continue to build our partnership with General Electric who has provided us nearly 600 MW of wind turbines, and with BNDES who has provided us with R$941 million (US$406 million) financing to date.
Located approximately 400 kilometers from Teresina, ContourGlobal's Chapada do Piaui Complex represents approximately R$1.9 billion (US$845 million) of total investment and is also expected to be financed by Brazil's state development bank BNDES who on July 25th, 2014 made a first disbursement of R$320 million (US$142 million) for Chapada I, the first wind farm in the complex to enter into construction.
