ENERGY supplier AES has agreed a deal to sell its power plants in Northern Ireland.
The AES Corporation confirmed yesterday it has entered into agreements to sell its interests in six sites in the UK and Jordan for a combined$211 million (£162m).
The company has struck a deal with Czech firm Energetický a Pr?myslový Holding (EPH) for its operations at Kilroot and Ballylumford in Co Antrim.
AES has agreed to sell its 100 per cent interest in the 708 MW Ballylumford gas-fired power plant and its 99 per cent interest in the 701 MW Kilroot coal- and oil-fired power plant, as well as the 10 MW Kilroot Energy Storage facility.
At this stage it is unclear if jobs will be affected at either site as a result of the sale.
A deal to sell the Jordan assets has been struck with Nebras Power Investment Management B.V and Mitsui and Co.
AES president and chief executive officer Andrés Gluski said the sale is a result of ongoing company consolidation.
“We are proud of our many years of successful operations in Jordan and the United Kingdom. In line with our business strategy, we continue to reduce the number of countries in which we operate and focus our growth efforts in fewer markets, and especially in renewables, energy storage and LNG.”
The UK sale is expected to close later this year, but is subject to regulatory approval by the European Commission.
In November Kilroot Power Station was given a one-year contract to provide power to the Northern Ireland grid, but the loss of 85 jobs was confirmed at neighbouring Ballylumford.
The agreement between AES and the System Operator for Northern Ireland (SONI) involved the closure of two generating sites at Ballylumford.
AES failed to land a contract to supply the new integrated single electricity market (ISEM) in January 2018.
