RSK expands global environmental consultancy services with Chilean acquisition AGEA

RSK has announced the acquisition of AGEA, a Chilean environmental and social management consulting firm, in a deal designed to support the group’s continued global growth in this sector while strengthening its presence in Latin America.

Founded in 2002 and based in Santiago, AGEA’s work has seen more than 6000 MW in renewable energy projects approved by environmental qualification resolutions or resoluciónes de calificación ambiental (RCA). RCAs ensure that a project complies with Chile’s environmental regulations and standards.

Clients include Michelin, Rio Tinto, Total, AES, EDF, Colbún, Transelec, SQM, ENGIE and Mainstream Renewable Power Chile, and recent projects include the following.

• Environmental approval of the Horizonte Wind Farm project: The plant, owned by Colbún, comprises 140 wind turbines with a maximum capacity of 7 MW per unit. The project’s total capacity could reach 980 MW, with an annual energy generation of approximately 2000 GWh. Horizonte is the largest wind farm in South America.
• Environmental supervision of the construction of the Pampa Fidelia project: This project, currently being carried out for ENGIE, consists of the implementation of the environmental requirements and commitments associated with the archaeology, flora and fauna components of the wind farm, in accordance with the provisions of the RCA. The execution of these services covers a total period of two years, and the activities to be developed include archaeological monitoring during the construction phase, implementing protection measures for archaeological finds and flora and fauna species and monitoring birds.
• Environmental approval of Pampas Hybrid Park: This project, owned by AES, includes the construction and operation of a hybrid power generation plant consisting of a wind farm and a photovoltaic park that together will have an installed capacity of approximately 392 MW. Additionally, the project has battery energy storage systems (BESS) with a capacity of 623.5 MW for up to 5 hours.

AGEA’s team of 65 environmental specialists, engineers and support staff is currently developing environmental studies for a range of renewable energy projects.

AGEA Chief Executive Officer Alex Stein, who will continue to lead the business, said: “RSK’s extensive knowledge and strong reputation in environmental consulting made it an excellent choice for AGEA. It creates the valuable opportunity for us to be part of a global business with extensive resources, while allowing us to maintain all that is distinctive about the company we have built.

“What is particularly exciting to us is the opportunity for AGEA to develop its services beyond Chile, bringing its recognised technical excellence in environmental modelling and renewable energy project permitting to new markets and clients. In turn, we can offer RSK a trusted partner with a deep understanding of Latin American environmental regulations and business culture.”

RSK Group Chief Executive Officer Alan Ryder said: “AGEA offers a comprehensive range of environmental consultancy services across licensing and permitting, environmental management and strategy, studies and audits. There is also a strong emphasis on community relationships and social and environmental evaluation. This is in keeping with RSK’s environmental consultancy services across the world.

The opportunity for synergy and collaboration, including sharing technological innovation, to benefit our clients is extremely important and attractive to the group, with RSK providing a global platform for AGEA’s contribution to projects in the renewable energy, water and sustainable mining sectors.”

RSK Board Director and Europe and LATAM Divisional Director Lara Duro echoed this, adding that AGEA represented an important addition to the group’s Chilean operations. She said: “AGEA will join Amphos 21, another key RSK business in Chile, in supporting a regional expansion strategy that will allow the business to provide clients with an enhanced and integrated service offering.”

RSK has been recognised as one of the fastest climbers in Environment Analyst’s Global Environmental & Sustainability Consulting Market Assessment (for FY 2023), jumping eight places since 2020 to take tenth place in the latest report. The group continues to deliver its ambitious growth strategy. It now comprises more than 200 companies and employs over 15,000 people. The group’s annual turnover at the end of FY24 was £1.9 billion.

The acquisition advisers for RSK were RSM and DLA Piper. The acquisition advisers for AGEA shareholders were ONEtoONE Corporate Finance and Vial Errazuriz.