GENEVA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:
Etrion Corporation (“Etrion” or the “Company”) (TSX: ETX) (OMX: ETX), an independent solar power producer, announces it has entered into a PPA with Atacama Minerals Chile S.C.M. (“Atacama Minerals”), to provide electricity to its Aguas Blancas iodine mine in Chile (the “Aguas Blancas Mine”). The PPA marks the first project supporting the Company’s strategy to expand into an exciting new growth market, complementing its Feed-in-Tariff revenues generated from its current operating platform in Europe with long-term agreements with industrial clients, specifically in the mining sector.
Aguas Blancas Solar Park (up to 8.8 MW)
Etrion has entered into a long-term take-or-pay PPA to sell electricity to the Aguas Blancas Mine located in the north of Chile. The Company plans to build, own and operate the solar park with a total capacity of up to 8.8 MW (the “Aguas Blancas Solar Park”) to meet approximately 35% of the Aguas Blancas Mine’s total projected power requirements. The solar park is expected to be operational in the second quarter of 2014. The total project cost, including costs related to the licences, permits, development and construction, is estimated to be US$25 million, a portion of which is expected to be financed through non-recourse debt with international financial institutions, with the remaining equity portion to be funded by Etrion.
Construction of the Aguas Blancas Solar Park, which is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of this year, is subject to Etrion arranging the necessary debt financing as well as other conditions customary for transactions of this nature.
Marco A. Northland, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “This is a very exciting achievement for the Company as it demonstrates that solar can operate without government subsidies. Energy is a key concern in Chile and given the high solar irradiation there, it is very exciting that solar is now becoming a viable and sustainable power alternative. With a proven track record in developing, building, financing and operating solar parks, I believe the Company is well positioned to become a key player in Chile’s energy sector. Having operations in Chile will smooth the effects of seasonality on our business, which will positively impact our results and cash flow position.”
About Etrion
Etrion Corporation is an independent power producer that owns and operates renewable assets. Etrion currently owns approximately 60 MW of operational, ground-based solar photovoltaic power plants in Italy. The Company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada and the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm exchange in Sweden.
Note: The capacity of power plants in this release is described in approximate megawatts on a direct current (“DC”) basis, also referred to as megawatt-peak (“MWp”).
Etrion discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the Swedish Securities Market Act and/or the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication in Sweden at 7:30 a.m. Central European Time on July 31, 2013.
Forward-Looking Information:
This press release contains certain “forward-looking information”. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements relating to the Company’s anticipated plans to build, operate and finance the Aguas Blancas Solar Park, including, without limitation, its anticipated construction and operation start dates, the anticipated solar electricity power and revenue to be realized from such power plant, the estimated total project cost relating thereto as well as the anticipated financial benefits to be derived therefrom by the Company constitute forward-looking information). This forward-looking information reflects the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company as well as certain assumptions (including that the Company will be able to obtain necessary financing). Forward-looking information is subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, the failure to obtain the necessary financing to complete construction of the Aguas Blancas Solar Park or to satisfy the other conditions precedent to the transaction as well as unexpected delays in completing the construction of the project and resulting delays in the start of operations.
Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com