USTDA GRANT FURTHERS EFFORTS TO BUILD A WASTE TO ENERGY PLANT IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (June 29, 2009) – On Friday, USTDA awarded a grant to MPX Energia, S.A. to determine the viability of constructing a waste to energy plant in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The grant, which reflects USTDA's ongoing commitment to Brazil's development since naming it as the agency's 2008 Country of the Year, will fund a study on the technical and financial feasibility of constructing a generation facility that will provide reliable and efficient power generation, while helping to reduce the level of municipal solid waste in Rio de Janeiro.

USTDA Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Nathan Younge and MPX Directors Paulo Monteiro and Xisto Vieira Filho signed an agreement awarding the $406,000 grant to MPX.

"USTDA is excited about this new partnership which builds upon years of successful collaboration on high priority projects here in Brazil," said Regional Director Younge. "In addition to expanding capacity in the Brazilian electricity sector, this project complements USTDA's interest in supporting alternative energy projects."

The project is expected to offset greenhouse gas emissions from existing landfills by using solid waste to generate electricity and provide power to approximately 30,000 - 45,000 households. The project, in the Rio municipality of Caju, could provide a model for other waste to energy plants in the country.

Brazil was named USTDA's 2008 Country of the Year as a result of the success of the agency's program in advancing mutual economic benefits and U.S. policy priorities. Brazil is one of USTDA's largest regional partners and the agency has invested in 92 priority projects there since 1981. Over the years, these investments have facilitated $266 million in U.S. exports.

The opportunity to conduct the study for MPX under today's grant will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. A link to the FBO announcement will be posted to USTDA's website at www.ustda.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO announcement. MPX will select the U.S. firm that will complete the study.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, early investment analysis, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair, open trading environment. USTDA's strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development. In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.

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