Gerdau Chile began studies to enter the electricity business
The manager of the Gerdau Steel Company (Chile) Italo Ozzano, says that among the possibilities is to raise his own center or partner with a local generator
High energy prices in the Central Interconnected System (SIC), which goes from Taltal to Chiloé-are forcing industrial companies to seek their own solutions in electric field.
The general manager of the Gerdau Steel Company (Chile) Italo Ozzano acknowledges that have lost competitiveness over the past two years as a result of the increase in the electric bill.
“Today we have a competitiveness problem that is the price of energy, which is very high and is heavily damaging the industrial sector. The price of energy represents 20% of our operating costs, while five years ago this value was less than half, “says Ozzano.
The executive revealed that some months ago the board of the Brazilian capital steelmaker decided to initiate a series of studies to enter fully into the power sector.
“We took a period of one year and a half to solve the electrical problem. The options being considered are investing with another company in the development of a generator, settle independently with our own center or follow the current pattern of purchasing electricity from third parties, “he says.
Ozzano acknowledges that have already had some meetings with companies in the industry, which have shown their business model and its portfolio of power projects that expect to drive during this decade.-
For the production of rebar for the construction of buildings, and rolled wire rods, among others, the company’s key energy input into its operation. General Manager maintains that the plant that is located in the town of Colina demand 45 MW to produce 550 000 tons of steel products annually.
“We have an investment plan to go from 550 thousand tons of steel to 800 thousand tons. That plan is stopped for a year, waiting to have more clarity in terms of energy, because it involves raising 45 MW to 60 MW energy requirements, “says Ozzano.
As for the experience that the group in electric field, the executive explained that the company has installed plants in Brazil that allow them to supply its operation.
In 2012, the company withdrew part of the 11,200 MW hydropower megacentral in the Amazon.
New authorities
In Gerdau ensure that solve the electrical problem that afflicts the country should be a priority of the new government that assumes Tuesday.
“If there is no competitive price, we have to look for alternatives as a country. What we need is a public-private to find cheap energy “agreement, says the executive.
In that vein, Ozzano recognizes that the new Minister of Energy, Maximo Pacheco, is positioned as a good letter to address the electrical challenge of the next four years.
“We took a period of one year and a half, because the projects we have to evaluate over time. Comes a new government and we have a minister who understands the industry and is well politically managed. We think it’s a good choice to have him in the field, “he says.-
Source: El Mercurio
