1.0.0.3 false ASSET IMPAIRMENT EXPENSE false 1 $ false false iso4217_USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 iso4217_USD_per_shares Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 5 ASSET IMPAIRMENT EXPENSE 3 aes_ImpairmentExpenseDisclosureTextBlock aes false na duration string Disclosure regarding the company's impairment expense in detail. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 <div> 19. ASSET IMPAIRMENT EXPENSE Asset impairment expense for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 consisted of:   <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="68%" align="center"> <tr> <td width="82%"></td> <td valign="bottom" width="16%"></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom" colspan="2" align="center">2009</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom" colspan="2" align="center">(in millions)</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td valign="top"> Piabanha </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom">$</td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">11</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> Other </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">14</td> </tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1px"> <td valign="bottom"></td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom">  </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td valign="top"> Total </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom">$</td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">25</td> </tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1px"> <td valign="bottom"></td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 3px double" valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 3px double" valign="bottom">  </td> </tr> </table> During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company recognized a pre-tax long-lived asset impairment charge of $11 million related to the Company’s Piabanha hydro project in Brazil. The Company determined that the carrying value exceeded the future discounted cash flows and abandoned the project.   <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="68%" align="center"> <tr> <td width="82%"></td> <td valign="bottom" width="14%"></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom" colspan="2" align="center">2008</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom" colspan="2" align="center">(in millions)</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td valign="top"> LNG projects in North America </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom">$</td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">67</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> Uruguaiana </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">36</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td valign="top"> South African peakers </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">31</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> Hefei </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">18</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td valign="top"> Other </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">23</td> </tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1px"> <td valign="bottom"></td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> Total </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom">$</td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">175</td> </tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1px"> <td valign="bottom"></td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 3px double" valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 3px double" valign="bottom">  </td> </tr> </table> In the fourth quarter of 2008 and in response to the financial market crisis, the Company reviewed and prioritized projects in the development pipeline. From this review, the Company determined that the carrying value exceeded the future discounted cash flows for certain projects. In accordance with the accounting standards for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, the Company recorded a total pre-tax impairment charge of $75 million ($34 million, net of noncontrolling interests and income taxes) related to two liquefied natural gas projects in North America and a non-power development project at one of our facilities in North America. These projects were reported in the North America Generation segment. Following an initial impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2007 at Uruguaiana, there were impairment charges of $36 million recognized during the first three quarters of 2008. The impairment was triggered by a combination of gas curtailments and increases in the spot market price of energy in 2007 that continued in 2008. The additional impairment charges in 2008 were primarily due to fixed asset purchase agreements in place. Uruguaiana is a thermoelectric generation plant located in Brazil and reported in the Latin America Generation segment. The Company recognized impairment charges totaling $31 million related to a project in South Africa the Company withdrew from during the first quarter of 2008. These represented project development costs and an impairment of turbine deposits related to the project. All costs capitalized and incurred on the project have been written off as no future benefit is expected from these assets. This project was reported in “Corporate and Other”. The Anhui Development and Reform commission issued notice to our Hefei plant in China, in March 2007 as a result of the 2007 State Council’s decision to shut down smaller, inefficient and potentially polluting generation units nationwide. A settlement agreement was signed March 30, 2008 to end the contractual PPA arrangement. In accordance with the accounting standards for goodwill and other intangible assets, management concluded that the assets were impaired in March 2008, since the long-lived asset group would be sold or otherwise disposed of significantly before the end of its previously estimated life. As a result, impairment charges of $18 million were recognized associated with the settlement agreement to shut down the Hefei plant, which is reported in the Asia Generation segment.   <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="68%" align="center"> <tr> <td width="82%"></td> <td valign="bottom" width="14%"></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom" colspan="2" align="center">2007</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom" colspan="2" align="center">(in millions)</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td valign="top"> Uruguaiana </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom">$</td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">352</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> Placerita </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">25</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td valign="top"> AgCert </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">14</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> Other </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom"> </td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">17</td> </tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1px"> <td valign="bottom"></td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid" valign="bottom">  </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td valign="top"> Total </td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td valign="bottom">$</td> <td valign="bottom" align="right">408</td> </tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1px"> <td valign="bottom"></td> <td valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 3px double" valign="bottom">  </td> <td style="BORDER-TOP: #000000 3px double" valign="bottom">  </td> </tr> </table> During the fourth quarter of 2007, the combination of gas curtailments and increases in the spot market price of energy triggered an impairment analysis of Uruguaiana’s long-lived assets for recoverability. Based on the accounting guidance for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, management concluded that an impairment occurred during fourth quarter 2007 due to the carrying amount of its long-lived asset exceeding its fair value. The expected present value of future cash flows was used to estimate fair value. As a result of this impairment analysis, a pre-tax impairment charge of $352 million was recognized which represents a full impairment of the fixed assets. Uruguaiana is a thermoelectric plant located in Brazil and is reported in the Latin America Generation segment. In August 2007, Placerita, a gas-fired combined cycle generation plant located in the United States, sustained property damage to the compressor section in one of its gas turbines. This event triggered an impairment analysis of the plant’s long-lived assets, which resulted in a pre-tax impairment charge of approximately $25 million, which represents the net book value of the plant. It was determined that no future net cash flows would be received from the use of this long-lived asset and it was fully impaired. Placerita is reported in the North America Generation segment. In May 2006, AES advanced AgCert, a United Kingdom based corporation that produces emission reduction credits, cash of $52 million. AES recognized this prepayment as a long-term asset as consideration for future CER credits and AgCert stock warrants. The asset was revalued each period based on current exchange rates. In the fourth quarter of 2007, AgCert notified AES that it was not able to meet its contractual obligations to deliver CERs, which triggered an analysis of the asset’s recoverability. AgCert’s financial information indicated a significant decrease in liquidity. As a result of the decline in liquidity and AgCert’s inability to fulfill its contractual obligations for future delivery of the CERs, the Company recognized a pre-tax impairment charge of $14 million using the net present value of forecasted operations. This investment and long-term asset are reported in “Corporate and Other”. Other Impairments In addition to the asset impairment expense discussed above, other-than-temporary impairments of cost method investments of $12 million and $15 million were recorded in the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. These impairment charges primarily related to the Company’s investment in 2007 in a company developing a commercial facility for a “blue gas” (coal to gas) technology project. The Company accounted for the investment in convertible preferred shares under the cost method of accounting. During the fourth quarter of 2008, the market value of the shares materially declined due to downward trends in the capital markets and management concluded that the decline was other-than-temporary and recorded an impairment charge of $10 million. In 2009, this investment was determined to be further impaired and an additional $10 million other-than-temporary impairment charge, representing the remaining value of the shares, was recorded. There was no other-than-temporary impairment of cost method investments in the year ended December 31, 2007. </div> 19. ASSET IMPAIRMENT EXPENSE Asset impairment expense for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 consisted false false Disclosure regarding the company's impairment expense in detail. No authoritative reference available. false false 1 1 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true