OREANDA-NEWS. MPX, an EBX Group company, announced that the third turbine of the Parnaiba I Thermo Power Plant, with an installed capacity of 169 MW, performed the initial synchronization to Brazil’s National Interconnected System (SIN). On March 22, 2013, the turbine reached its nominal capacity, 169 MW, and has been operating in test mode since then.

Parnaiba I, a 70%/30% partnership between MPX and Petra Energia S.A., respectively, comprises four gas turbine of 169 MW each, totaling an installed capacity of 676 MW. Currently, two of the four turbines are already generating at full capacity under the terms of the 15-year Regulated Market power purchase agreement (PPA) secured in the A-5 energy auction in 2008. With the initial synchronization of the third turbine complete, the plant has reached a nominal capacity of 507 MW and daily gas consumption of 3.3 million m3.

Natural gas is supplied to Parnaiba I by MPX’s related-company, OGX Maranhao, a joint-venture between MPX (33.3%) and OGX (66.6%).

The Parnaiba Thermoelectric Complex, located in the municipality of Santo Antonio dos Lopes, in Maranhao, is a pioneer enterprise which integrates the production of natural gas to the power generation. With a license to produce up to 3,722 MW, MPX invests more than BRL 2.6 billion in the implementation of phases 1 and 2, which will come into operation by 2014. Altogether, the Complex has 1,556 MW contracted by up to 20 years. A partnership between MPX (70%) and Petra Energia (30%), the development generates approximately 2,200 direct jobs, over 80% of the local workforce. The plant is fueled by gas produced by OGX and MPX in Parnaiba Basin.

MPX Energia S.A., an EBX Group company, is a Brazilian diversified energy company with complementary businesses in power generation and natural gas E&P in South America. The Company has a large portfolio of integrated energy projects, which positions it to be a leading private-sector power generator. MPX power generation plants will be the primary off-takers of the natural gas produced in the OGX Maranhao’s unique onshore portfolio, its related company, with estimated risked resources of over 11 Tcf.