Duke Energy might sell International Energy business

Duke Energy is considering the sale of all or a portion of its International Energy business segment. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Duke Energy International owns power plants in Central and South America.

Duke Energy International (DEI) facilities include approximately 4,400 megawatts of capacity in power plants in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala and Peru. Two-thirds of the power plant portfolio is hydro and half are located in Brazil. The majority of the power generated by the plants is either contracted or receiving a capacity payment.

Duke Energy’s 25-percent equity investment in National Methanol Company, a Saudi Arabian regional producer of methanol and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), a gasoline additive, will not be included in this potential transaction.

The company made the announcement in light of a required statement made early Thursday by its Brazilian subsidiary, Duke Energy International, Geração Paranapanema S.A., which has publicly-traded securities in Brazil.