ENGIE obtains financing of R$ 1.5 billion from BNDES for work on the Santo Agostinho Wind Complex
ENGIE Brasil Energia has signed a financing agreement with the Brazilian Development Bank – BNDES (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social) for the implementation of Phase I of the Santo Agostinho Wind Complex. Representing approximately 64% out of the total investment in the project, the financing is worth R$ 1.473 billion.
The Santo Agostinho Wind Complex is being installed in the municipalities of Lajes and Pedro Avelino, approximately 120 km from the state capital, Natal (RN). The total installed capacity of 434 MW will be reached with the installation of 70 Siemens Gamesa-made wind turbines of 6.2 MW each distributed in 14 wind farms. The project’s viability made possible through the sale of energy to clients on the free market, this phase of the Complex will require investments of the order of R$ 2.3 billion (as at the baseline month of December/2020) and a buildup to a workforce of more than a thousand jobs in the region, of which approximately 800 have already been created. This entire labor force is already involved in activities of civil construction and installation of components in the first wind farms in addition to monitoring activities by a range of different specialists in the socio-environmental and archeological areas.
The new project reinforces ENGIE’s growth strategy and increases the Company’s footprint n Brazil through the exploration of renewable sources with low greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). “Right now, growth of electric energy, especially from renewable sources, is critical to the future of Brazil. The feasibility of this financing is the result of a collective effort. It is an indication of the commitment of both ENGIE and the BNDES to the country’s development in a responsible manner and considering the importance of allocating resources for accelerating the growth of wind generation and diversifying the domestic energy matrix”, comments the Chief Executive and Investor Relations Officer of the company, Eduardo Sattamini.
ENGIE Brasil Energia’s commitment to socio-environmental questions will also contribute to the communities surrounding the project. In addition to the programs and actions linked to the licensing process, the Company will make further investments of a voluntary nature in projects which benefit the region. Among the initiatives envisaged are the rescue and monitoring of flora and fauna, waste management activities, the restoration of degraded areas, initiatives for conserving the biodiversity and the management of the archeological heritage. With respect to projects in the social area, key activities are those involving communication and educational activities in the communities and specifically with workers as well as projects for generating income and for skills training.
At the project site, a start has already been made on the construction of access roads, excavation of wind turbine tower foundations as well as the implementation of medium voltage networks and the construction of the collector substation, all synergies which help both development and viability.
The Santo Agostinho project has recently received a preliminary license issued by the Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável e Meio Ambiente (Idema), the state of Rio Grande do Norte environmental protection agency, declaring the operation environmentally viable. All the necessary installation licenses have been issued as well as the respective agreements from the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute – Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (IPHAN) for the wind farms.
ABOUT ENGIE
ENGIE is a global reference in low-carbon energy and services. With its 97,000 employees, its customers, partners and stakeholders, the Group is committed to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally-friendly solutions. Inspired by its purpose (“raison d’être”), ENGIE reconciles economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on its key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to its customers. Turnover in 2022: 82.6 billion Euros.
In Brazil, ENGIE, leader in 100% renewable power generation in the country, operates in generation, commercialization and transmission of electric power, gas transport and energy solutions. The Company
has in the country an installed capacity of 12,5 GW, originated from renewable sources and with low GHG emissions, such as hydro, solar and biomass power plants, and windfarms.
With the acquisition of Transportadora Associada de Gás – TAG, ENGIE now also owns the largest natural gas transportation network in the country, at 4,500 km and transecting 10 states and 191 cities.
The Group has a complete portfolio of integrated solutions focused on reducing costs and improving the infrastructure for companies and cities, such as energy efficiency, public lighting, energy monitoring and management.
With 2,800 employees, ENGIE’s turnover in Brazil in 2023 was of R$ 11.7 billion. ENGIE trades on the B3 through its energy generation and trading company, ENGIE Brasil Energia, under the ticker EGIE3. In addition to being a B3 Novo Mercado component, the Company is one of the very few companies that have been listed in the Business Sustainability Index since its creation in 2005. In 2021, ENGIE Brasil Energia was included in the Carbon-Efficient Index (ICO2), made up of IBrX 100 companies that are most transparent in terms of GHG emissions reporting and how they are preparing for a low-carbon economy.
The company also received in May 2024 the certification Great Place to Work, a recognition which validates the continuous commitment of the company to create a positive and inclusive work environment for all.
The Group is listed on the Paris and Brussels stock exchanges (ENGI) and is represented in the main financial indices (CAC 40, Euronext 100, FTSE Euro 100, MSCI Europe) and non-financial indices (DJSI World, Euronext Vigeo Eiris – Europe 120/France 20, MSCI EMU ESG screened, MSCI EUROPE ESG Universal Select, Stoxx Europe 600 ESG-X).