Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Duke Energy Corp., the owner of utilities in the U.S. Southeast and Midwest, is in talks with Chinese companies on U.S. power investments and plans to pursue joint projects with Asian partners in South America.

Duke, which is building a hydroelectric plant in Brazil and expanding its power output in Peru, would like to have more assets in those countries, Chief Executive Officer Jim Rogers said yesterday in an interview in Hollywood, Florida. Chinese partners would allow the Charlotte, North Carolina-based company to carry “large” projects, he said.

“We’re looking for partners to expand our Latin operations faster,” Rogers said. “Over time, we would like to partner with Chinese energy companies in investments in the U.S. as well as South America.”

Duke and China’s closely held ENN Group agreed last month to jointly develop solar-power projects in the U.S. Rogers declined to identify the Chinese companies with which Duke is in talks on other U.S. projects.

Additional investments in Latin America would enable Duke to keep international operations as the source of about 10 percent of annual earnings before interest and taxes, Rogers said.

“I see additional investments in natural gas there, particularly in Brazil,” Rogers said. “We think Brazil is a good place to do business, as well as Peru.”

Duke fell 4 cents to $15.78 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The stock has dropped 5.1 percent this year.

To contact the reporter on this story: Katarzyna Klimasinska in Hollywood, Florida at kklimasinska@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 2, 2009 16:07 EST