Since the year 2002 our subsidiary Energy Services do Brasil in Rio de Janeiro is offering it´s engineering services in Middle- and South America.

Based on this project Evonik Energy Services do Brasil Ltd.and a local partner with 27 employees operate the Canoas 170 MW gas turbine power plant in Porto Alegre on behalf of Petrobras since 2002. This is one of the most advanced, efficient and environment-friendly power plants in South America. The power plant is at the end of the long gas pipeline from Bolivia and supplies power to neighboring Argentina as well as to the Porto Alegre region. A highly efficient off-gas recovery unit is to be installed in the coming years to allow operation as a combined gas and steam turbine power plant.

In 2008 Evonik signed a similar long-term agreement to operate a highly complex 480 MW power plant fired by blast furnace gas in Sepetiba near Rio de Janeiro. This will supply power to a blast furnace currently being built by a joint venture of ThyssenKrupp Steel and the world’s largest iron ore supplier, Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD). This power plant, which will also supply 200 MW power to the public grid, sets new standards for gas recovery and energy efficiency in blast furnaces. Evonik designed the power plant and is providing support during the construction phase.

In recent years, Evonik has also been involved in a number of other projects in Argentina and gas run training projects in Chile. The Group has thus established a strong market presence in the region and is well-positioned to participate in the dynamic growth of the South American electricity market.