EXHIBIT 20.2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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                   AES ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR PRIVATE OFFERINGS
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ARLINGTON,  VA,  October  21,  1997 -- The AES  Corporation  (NYSE:  AES)  today
announced that it had commenced private offerings of senior  subordinated  notes
and  convertible  securities with an expected  aggregate value of  approximately
$800 million. If consummated,  a large portion of the proceeds of the offerings,
together with approximately  $600 million of non-recourse bank financing,  would
be used to finance AES's winning bid for the acquisition of approximately 90% of
the common shares of Companhia Centro-Oeste de Distribuicao de Energia Electrica
("CCODEE")  previously  announced by AES. The  securities  offered have not been
registered  under the  Securities  Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in
the  United  States  absent   registration  or  an  applicable   exemption  from
registration requirements.