Privatisation projects in NE and southern Brazil have been cancelled.Parana state has cancelled the planned sale of state utility Copel, citing ‘sectorial changes’ as well as international events and a lack of definition in local energy sector rules. These factors were, it said, combining to scare off investors. An attempted sale of Copel in 2001 also failed – the state government had been trying to revitalise the stalled sell off process by dividing Copel into smaller companies. Copel has 18 plants, 17 hydro electric, with a combined capacity of over 4.5 GW.
The sale of Chesf in NE Brazil has also been cancelled. That leaves the Sau Paulo state utility Cesp as the only big name among companies earmarked for sell off.