SAO PAULO, March 7 (Reuters) - Brazil's energy regulator Aneel said on Tuesday it will auction next month new licenses to build and operate 7,400 kilometers (4,598 miles) of power transmission lines requiring up to 13.1 billion reais ($4.2 billion) in investment.
In a statement, the regulator said the power lines would pass through 20 Brazilian states and should enter operation in the five years after the auction, scheduled for April 24.
Power generator Engie Brasil Energia SA ENGIE.PA and distributor Energisa SA ENGI11.SA have already expressed interest in bidding.
President Michel Temer launched an infrastructure concessions program on Tuesday aimed at raising 45 billion reais ($14.4 billion) in investments in roads, port terminals, railways and power transmission lines. analysts expect the power transmission licenses auction to be successful, following good results for another sale in October.
The companies that acquired licenses last year included Brookfield Asset Management Inc BAMa.TO , Equatorial Energia SA EQTL3.SA , Cteep Companhia de Transmissão de Energia Elétrica Paulista TRPL4.SA and EDP Energias do Brasil SA ENBR3.SA . ($1 = 3.1194 reais)