CPFL Energia plans to invest nearly US$6bn by end-2028

Brazil’s CPFL Energia plans to invest 28.4bn reais (US$5.9bn) in 2024-28. 

Of the total, 23.4bn reais will go to the distribution segment. 

The rest will be allocated to transmission (3.5bn reais), generation (1.04bn reais) and marketing and services (410mn reais), according to a statement. 

In 2023, the company invested around 5bn reais.

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SPIC Brasil concluded the issue of 1.3bn reais in notes for the implementation of PV solar energy generation projects in the northeast of the country. 

The operation was carried out with banks Bradesco BBI and Santander, and the issues were made in July and December, with the entire operation being concluded on December 21.

The funds will finance the completion of SPIC's first solar parks in Brazil: the Panati complex in Jaguaretama, Ceará state, and the Marangatu complex in Brasileira, Piauí. 

With total installed capacity of 738MWp, the projects are currently in the final stages of construction, with operations scheduled to begin in the first half of 2024.

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Petrobras reported that Carmo Energy and its parent company Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios have failed to meet contractual payment obligations related to the sale of the Carmópolis pole, which comprises 11 onshore fields in Sergipe state.

A final unpaid installment of US$296mn was due on December 20 under the US$1.1bn deal, according to the federal oil company. 

In a press release, Petrobras said that it will adopt the appropriate contractual and legal measures to collect the amount owed.

BNamericas was unable to contact the Cobra group by the time of publication.

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Petrobras began drilling the Pitu Oeste well in the Potiguar basin on Saturday. 

The move marks the resumption of the state company's search for oil and gas in the Equatorial Margin. 

Through Pitu Oeste, Petrobras will obtain more geological information about the area, which will allow it to confirm the extent of the oil discovery made in 2014 at the Pitu well, the company said.

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Meanwhile, Petrobras reported that it had received a proposal from Mubadala Capital to formalize recent discussions on the creation of a potential strategic partnership for downstream development in Brazil. 

The initiative, which is being analyzed by the Brazilian company, focuses on traditional refining, as well as the development of a biorefinery, both in Bahia state. 

Through Acelen, Mubadala operates the Mataripe refinery in Bahia, which was acquired from Petrobras in 2021.

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Enauta has signed a US$150mn contract to buy the 23% stake held by QatarEnergy Brasil in the Abalone, Ostra and Argonauta oilfields, which make up the Parque das Conchas area in the Campos basin.

Parque das Conchas is operated by Shell with a 50% stake and ONGC holds the remaining 27%.  

Current production is around 35,000b/d of oil through the chartered Espírito Santo FPSO.

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The first hybrid vessel in Brazilian waters has been commissioned by Equinor. 

The platform supply vessel (PSV) has a battery bank installed, which makes it possible to use electricity or diesel. 

As a result, the Norwegian oil company expects the vessel, which is working on logistics in the Bacalhau field in the Santos basin, to emit up to 40% less CO2 during operations.

The vessel is the result of a contract between Equinor and Brazilian group CBO. The partnership also involves plans to convert a new hybrid PSV next year.

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Brazil’s installed electric power capacity grew 8.4GW in 2023, according to the mines and energy ministry (MME).  

Wind and solar power plants accounted for 90.4% of the growth.

Rio Grande do Norte, Minas Gerais and Bahia stand out in the ranking of states with the greatest contribution to the expansion. 

In total installed capacity, the country reached 197GW, with renewable sources – including hydro, wind, photovoltaic and biomass – accounting for 83.6%.

This year also saw growth in distributed micro and mini-generation, which reached 24.4GW of installed capacity.

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Itaú Unibanco has made a new investment in Equatorial Distribuição, amounting to approximately 1.3bn reais.

In a statement, Equatorial said the transaction will contribute to improving the corporate structure and operational integration of Equatorial Alagoas with the other companies invested in by Equatorial Distribuição, as well as improving the financial liquidity of the economic group.

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The Moura Group has installed, on the campus of the federal university of Minas Gerais (UFMG), the first storage system to interact directly with an energy distribution network – in this case, operated by local power company Cemig. 

The aim is to ensure management intelligence, flexibility and reliability in meeting the energy demand of the institution and other consumers in the region.