Brazil's $14.5 Billion Belo Monte Hydroelectric Project Takes Important Step

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The proposed Belo Monte hydroelectric plant, which belongs to the Norte Energia S.A. (Brasilia, Brazil) and is the largest hydroelectric project in Brazil, recently obtained the environmental license for the construction of the power plant, which is to be built on the Xingu River.

The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) had filed a public civil action seeking the annulment of Preliminary License No. 342/2010, issued by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA); Proclamation No. 006/2009, issued by the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL); and Declaration of Water Availability of Resolution No. 740/2009, issued by the National Water Agency (ANA). MPF said that the construction works would affect indigenous lands in Paquiçamba, Arara da Volta Grande and Juruna by diminishing the navigation on the Xingu River, as well as fishing activity, negatively impacting riparian communities in the region.

The MPF's allegations were countered by AGU, which argued that the Study and Environmental Impact Report (EIA/RIMA) established several measures of protection and compensation to diminish any impact on the traditional way of life of indigenous and riparian village inhabitants. The Federal Court of Pará State recognized that IBAMA had held public hearings and had taken into account the concerns of civil society. The court also noted that the principles of precaution and prevention on environmental issues were considered in the licensing process.

The Belo Monte hydropower project will have an installed capacity of 11,233 MW and is the third-largest in the world, after the Three Gorges Plant on the Yangtze River in China and the Itaipu Plant in Rio Paraná, on the border of Brazil and Paraguay.

The plant will have two powerhouses. The larger Belo Monte powerhouse will have 18 Francis turbines of 611 MW each that will be manufactured, supplied and installed by IMPSA (Godoy Cruz, Argentina) and a joint venture that includes Alstom S.A. (EPA:ALO) (Levallois-Perret, France), Voith Siemens (Heidenheim an der Brenz, Germany) and Andritz AG (Graz, Austria). The other powerhouse, Pimental, will have six 40-MW Bulb turbines provided by Andritz.

Construction began in June 2011. The first unit to go online is scheduled to be Pimental 01 in February 2015, and the last is scheduled to be Belo Monte 18 in January 2019. The total investment value of the project is estimated to be $14.5 billion.

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