RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL and ARNHEM, THE NETHERLANDS--(Marketwire - Aug 14, 2012) - DNV KEMA Energy & Sustainability will assist SINAEES/SENAI, the Brazilian association of electrical and electronic industry and the national service for industry, with the design and development of a new high-voltage and high-power laboratory complex. The project was launched on August 13 at a ceremony in Belo Horizonte, the capital of the Minas Gerais province, where SENAI and provincial government officials signed an agreement to support the laboratory project. The laboratories are expected to be operational in 2015 and will be located in the city of Itajubá, Minas Gerais.
The escalating demand for electricity to serve the country's rapid economic growth necessitates modern facilities that can test and certify electrical apparatus destined for regional power grids. DNV KEMA has been selected as an advisor, because of its 75 years of experience in testing power equipment and designing high-power and high-voltage laboratories.
DNV KEMA's work will include design, construction oversight, tendering assistance, and final review and calibration of the high-voltage and high-power laboratories. The new laboratories are expected to have a significant role in furthering Brazil's power industry to serve as a catalyst for growth in domestic power equipment manufacturing.
"With the creation of the laboratory, we expect to provide better services for the electric industry, contributing to its empowerment and also to the sustainable development of the country," Lúcio Sampaio, director of SENAI said.
"We are very pleased to support SINAEES/SENAI with the development of these laboratories in one of the world's most dynamic markets," said Paul Leufkens, general manager of KEMA-Powertest, LLC in the United States. "Our independent High-Power and High-Voltage Laboratories in the Netherlands and United States are recognized as world-leading testing facilities. Our experience in T&D testing and consulting services and our commitment to investments in state-of-the art laboratories will help SINAEES/SENAI to realize dedicated testing facilities for the industry."
About DNV KEMA Energy & Sustainability
DNV KEMA Energy & Sustainability, with more than 2,300 experts in over 30 countries around the world, is committed to driving the global transition toward a safe, reliable, efficient, and clean energy future. With a heritage of nearly 150 years, we specialize in providing world-class, innovative solutions in the fields of business & technical consultancy, testing, inspections & certification, risk management, and verification. As an objective and impartial knowledge-based company, we advise and support organizations along the energy value chain: producers, suppliers & end-users of energy; equipment manufacturers; as well as government bodies, corporations and non-governmental organizations. DNV KEMA Energy & Sustainability is part of DNV, a global provider of services for managing risk with more than 10,000 employees in over 100 countries. For more information on DNV KEMA Energy & Sustainability, visit www.dnvkema.com.