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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                             -----------------------


                                    FORM 8-A

                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OR 12(G) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                               THE AES CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                 DELAWARE                                54-1163725
 (State of Incorporation or Organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1001 NORTH 19TH STREET, ARLINGTON VIRGINIA                  22209
 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                (Zip Code)


If   this   form    relates   to   the    If   this   form    relates   to   the
registration  of a class of securities    registration  of a class of securities
pursuant  to  Section   12(b)  of  the    pursuant  to  Section   12(g)  of  the
Exchange Act and is effective pursuant    Exchange Act and is effective pursuant
to General  Instruction A.(c),  please    to General  Instruction A.(d),  please
check the following box. [X]              check the following box. [ ]




                                                                                     
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:               333-39857
                                                                                         ---------------
                                                                                         (If applicable)

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


                   Title of Each Class                                  Name of Each Exchange on Which
                   to be so Registered                                  Each Class is to be Registered
                   -------------------                                -----------------------------------
     % Convertible Junior Subordinated Debentures due                       New York Stock Exchange
                           2005


Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                                (Title of Class)
                                ---------------)
                                     (none)

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ITEM 1: DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED

     For  a  full  description  of  the  ___%  Convertible  Junior  Subordinated
Debentures due 2005 (the  "Debentures")  being registered  hereby,  reference is
made  to the  information  contained  under  the  caption  "Description  of Debt
Securities" and  "Description of Capital Stock" in the Prospectus dated November
19, 1997 (the "Prospectus") contained in the Registrants' Registration Statement
on Form S-3  (Registration  No.  333-39857) and information  contained under the
captions  "Description of Debentures" in a Prospectus Supplement relating to the
Securities  to be filed by the  Registrants  pursuant to Rule  424(b)  under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  The information  contained in the foregoing
Registration  Statement and  Prospectus  Supplement are  incorporated  herein by
reference.

ITEM 2: EXHIBITS

     The  following  exhibits have been filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission:

     1.   Prospectus  dated  November  19,  1997,  included in the  Registrants'
          Registration  Statement on Form S-3  (Registration  No.  333-39857) as
          filed  with the  Commission  on  November  7, 1997 and as  amended  by
          Amendment No. 1 filed with  Commission on November 19, 1997 (together,
          the "S-3 Registration Statement") and hereby incorporated by reference
          herein.

     2.   Form  of  Junior   Subordinated   Debt   Securities   Indenture   (the
          "Indenture")between The AES Corporation and The First National Bank of
          Chicago   (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  4.3  to  the  S-3
          Registration Statement).

     3.   Form of Supplemental  Indenture to the Indenture included as Exhibit 4
          to the  Company's  Form  8-K  filed  on  August  4,  1998  and  hereby
          incorporated by reference.
 

     4.   Form  of  __%  Convertible  Junior  Subordinated  Debenture  due  2005
          (included in Form of Supplemental Indenture).




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                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 12 of the Securities  Exchange Act
of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

                                                 THE AES CORPORATION

                                                 By:    /s/ Paul Hanrahan
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Name:  Paul Hanrahan
                                                    Title: Senior Vice President


Date: July 31, 1998





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