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Relative to the Company’s previously communicated outlook for the third quarter, global unit demand has lagged expectations particularly in Latin America, Thailand and Spain. End market demand throughout Latin America continues to be hampered by inconsistent construction spending and electrical infrastructure investment. In Thailand, demand for the Company’s products has not yet been significantly impacted by the actions taken by the new government aimed at improving domestic economic activity. Additionally, the Spanish market remains difficult due to the ongoing challenges faced in that economy.

n 2010, thermal energy displaced hydro as the major source of energy generation for the Chilean Central Interconnected System.  Coal, natural gas, and diesel supplied over 50% of energy consumed while hydropower accounted for 48%.  This trend is expected to continue in 2011 if current water shortage conditions persist. (El Mercurio, 1/4/11)  Last year’s drought created a 26% increase in thermal generation as compared to 2009.

The Regional Energy Efficiency Strategy initiative led by Bun-ca has reported an energy savings of 9368 MWh over the past six years, equivalent to 4992 tons of carbon dioxide, by working with 190 companies in the industrial and commercial sectors to become more energy efficient.   Recently UNEP’s En.lighten study estimated that Costa Rica could save 276,000 MWh and $27.6 million per year if they changed all light bulbs to CFLs.  The cost of this change was estimated to be $22.63 million.  (El Financiero CR, 1/3/11)

The Mexican government is planning to invest four billion dollars to build a one thousand megawatt renewable energy storage facility in Northern Mexico.   The facility will use a special kind of sodium sulfide batteries for the project which is expected to be completed in the next six years.  (Clean Techies, 1/6/11)

Spain's Iberdrola To Invest €365m into Mexican Wind

Mexico Takes Lead in Latin America with Announcement of Region’s Largest GE LED Street Lighting Project

Venezuela’s president Hugo Chávez has announced a partnership with Chinese businesses aimed at mapping the mining potential of the Latin American country.

"The Mexico building construction market is an integral part of Alcan Cable's North American growth strategy for our STABILOY® cable products.  The expansion of the distribution warehouse in Mexico City demonstrates Alcan Cable's continued commitment to the Mexican and Latin American markets," said Jack Miller, President, Alcan Cable.At the open house, guests were able to tour the distribution center and meet Alcan Cable de México personnel and members of Alcan Cable's U.S. management team.  The facility features additional inventory capacity, redesigned cutting and packaging equipment, and a training center to host customer educational programs about STABILOY® cables.The company's STABILOY® brand of aluminum alloy cables have become the standard for commercial, institutional and industrial building applications in Mexico.  Alcan Cable de México utilizes a network of electrical distributors to sell its products throughout Mexico.

Growth in spending on machinery and investment by the world’s 2,000 biggest companies has begun to contract for the first time since the Lehman crisis, led by sharp falls in China and a near collapse in Latin America.