Duke Energy International
A Sharper Focus
Duke Energy International (DEI) began 2004 with a goal of exiting the European and Asia-Pacific markets – to focus on increasing the returns from our power generation business in Latin America. Energy demand in that part of the world is growing at 4 to 6 percent a year, two to three times the growth rate in North America, and DEI owns generation assets in seven Latin American countries.
DEI’s continuing operations delivered solid results in 2004, contributing $222 million in EBIT toward Duke Energy’s overall goals.
Major accomplishments:
- With the US$1.2 billion sale of our assets in Australia and New Zealand in April (including $840 million of debt assumed by the buyer), Duke Energy reached its 2004 divestiture target just four months into the year. In May, DEI sold its 30 percent equity interest in the Cantarell nitrogen facility in Mexico, and by year-end, our exit from Europe was largely complete.

The 160-megawatt Planta Arizona in Guatemala generates electricity efficiently and at low cost, using dual-fuel technology. |
- Planta Arizona in Guatemala completed its dual-fuel conversion, making it one of the most efficient thermal plants in Central America. By using a mix of different fuels, Duke Energy has become one of the lowest-cost energy providers in that region.
- In Brazil, a successful contracting strategy significantly reduced our exposure to low-price spot markets in 2004 and eliminated that exposure for 2005. At the same time, we are preserving capacity for 2006 and beyond, in anticipation of improving market conditions and price levels.
- DEI’s overall safety record improved in 2004. DEI Brazil became the first company to earn the Eloy Chaves Medal, the most prestigious safety award in the country’s electric power industry, for three consecutive years.
- Our employees in Brazil have worked for more than five years without a lost-time incident, and our Peru and Argentina facilities recently surpassed two years without a lost-time incident.
- Duke Energy Peru became the first company in Peru, and the first in the Duke Energy system, to obtain simultaneous international certifications for operations management, environmental management, and occupational health and safety practices, based on International Organization for Standardization (ISO) guidelines.
DEI’s operations are well-positioned to achieve higher earnings and returns in the near term, and to benefit from continued growth in energy demand in Latin America.
— Bobby Evans, President and Chief Executive Officer, Duke Energy Americas
Profile: Duke Energy International owns and operates power generation facilities, and sells electric power and natural gas. Its primary focus is on power generation activities in Latin America.
Operating Data
| |
2004 |
|
2003 |
|
2002 |
|
2001 |
|
2000 |
| International Energy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sales, gigawatt-hours |
17,776 |
|
16,374 |
|
18,350 |
|
15,749 |
|
14,154 |
| Proportional capacity in operation, megawattsa |
4,139 |
|
4,121 |
|
3,917 |
|
3,968 |
|
3,768 |
| a Represents share of capacity owned by DEI. |