AES Sul unveils US$9mn Alegrete 5 substation

Brazilian power company AES Sul has announced the completion of its 18.5mn (US$9mn) Alegrete 5 substation in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. The facility will increase power supply in the municipalities of Alegrete, Itaqui and Uruguaiana by 30% due to a 25MVA increase in the region's transforming capacity, AES Sul said in a statement. The substation is the 11th to be completed by the company in 2012. "The increased energy supply is going to improve the level of tension and reduce interruptions," the statement said. "This will help lead to gains in productivity and quality for local producers." The completion of Alegrete 5 follows the startup of substations Manoel Viana, Roca Sales, Estrela 2, Livramento 1, S�o Borja 1, S�o Sep�, Encantado, Sobradinho, S�o Borja 3 and Uruguaiana 7 in the past year. The projects account for 200mn reais in investments, almost two thirds of the company's 310mn-real commitment to expanding its power network in 2012. "We are contributing decisively to the economic and social development in the region," AES Sul said. "We have almost added a new substation per month, changing the face of our concession area in the past year." AES Sul, a subsidiary of Grupo AES Brasil, distributes electric power to about 4mn consumers in 118 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul.