27 December 2006 -- Wärtsilä will invest 1.2 million euros in the construction of a new workshop and the purchase of new equipment to meet regional demand in its various activities in Brazil.

Wärtsilä carries out service on almost 600 MW of Wärtsilä power plants in the region as well as providing industrial maintenance for companies in the Industrial District.

The expansion will triple the existing facilities, giving a total of 3,500 square meters for the existing and new services.

"We will further expand our automation and instrumentation services" says Tomas Hakala, President of Wärtsilä in Brazil. "During 2006 we also received full Operations & Maintenance contracts for three power plants in Manaus. Our new workshop will be centrally responsible for all the operational functions, as well as component maintenance and the administration of the power plants," he continues.

The existing workshop already provides tooling, repairs and maintenance for propulsion and automation and electrical equipment for vessels, platforms and power plants. Wärtsilä in Brazil also provides on-site maintenance services, thanks to the use of portable equipment and a mobile technical team.

Wärtsilä in Manaus has three power plants and intends to recruit more technical personnel for different positions in the next few months to meet the increase in business volume.

Wärtsilä has an installed base of over 100 ships and vessels in Brazil in oil tankers, tugboats and pushers, and also platforms and naval installations. Wärtsilä has more than 850 MW power plants installed or on order in Brazil.