Polish energy firm will invest in Chile US$ 500 million
The company will begin two pilot projects in northern zone this year disbursing US$ 30 million, and looking to partner with a university to create a training center
With a long-term strategy arrives in Chile the Polish firm CRE Group, expert in power generation from mainly wind and solar renewable sources.
The company already has defined goals. In 2014 would trigger two solar projects in Region III, with an investment of around U.S. $ 30 million-which would be the starting point of a plan that includes at least a decade of business in Chile, says Jacek Markowski, President of the Center for Energy Development (CRE), the new subsidiary registered in the country a few months ago.
The executive, who was this week in Santiago and Calama participating in the International Investment Forum Chile 2014 (which was organized by the Foreign Investment Committee), explained that “we have decided that Chile will be the second country in which we will focus our activity “.
CRE Group is a group of service companies in renewable energy, such as project development, consulting, education, legal issues and maintenance. Its headquarters is Poland and have initiatives in Europe, including the representation of a fund in Luxembourg. Their total renewable energy installations has a size of more than 350 MW.
Investment in human capital and support
Markowski says that CRE strategy in Chile not want to be hasty. Therefore, he states that are deeply studying the local market in order to have a rapid adaptation. In this context, the executive indicates that a horizon of 10 years, the company would invest in the country about U.S. $500 million, with close to 1,000 MW installed capacity. The power generation will receive greater emphasis on development will be solar, he added.-
“We are in the process of searching for locations near Copiapo” he says.
Among the tasks they intend to move forward, the executive said that much work to convince the private sector and financial institutions to support initiatives.
“Banks are not so far attracted by these initiatives. We are working to build business models to suit the requirements of financial institutions, to support these projects, “he says.
Polish investors not only intended to play a role in power generation, but also seek to realize an educational plan to pass on their knowledge of renewable energy and strengthen the national human capital.
“We will be active in Chile in many areas, including the development and education projects. We use our experience and knowledge to contribute to the development of this industry, “said Markowski, who adds that are looking to partner with a national university to channel technical training.
Source: El Mercurio
