Brazilian Consortium to Start Site Preparation of 3.3-Gigawatt Hydropower Plant

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--On November 13, the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) and the National Water Agency (ANA) granted the Energia Sustentavel do Brasil consortium the preliminary and environmental permits to start site preparation of the 3.3-gigawatt (GW) Jirau hydropower project. IBAMA authorized the consortium to build the watertight chamber and the auxiliary facilities to store supplies and equipment.

Although, IBAMA approved the Jirau Power Plant project modifications, Energia Sustentavel do Brasil consortium is still awaiting the definitive license to start the civil works. In order to fulfill environmental requirements, the consortium relocated the plant dam 9 kilometers downstream of the original plan, reducing the excavation volume and the environmental impact.

On May 19, the consortium, formed by Suez S.A.(EPA:SZE) (Paris, France), Eletrosul (Santa Catarina, Brazil), Chesf (Pernambuco, Brazil) and engineering company Camargo Correa (Sao Paulo, Brazil), won the concession auction for the construction and operation of the hydropower plant. For related information, view May 22, 2008, article - Energia Sustentavel Consortium Wins Jirau Hydropower Plant Concession Auction.

The consortium signed a contract with Hyosung Corporation (SEO:004800) (Seoul, South Korea), which will provide the equipment for the substation. The plant will be equipped with 44 75-megawatt (MW) Kaplan turbines and will start operation in January 2013. The station, along with the San Antonio hydropower plant, is part of the 6,450-MW Madeira River Complex, a project with a total investment value of $9.8 billion. The complex, located in the state of Rondonia, is considered essential by the Brazilian government in order to help the country meet power demand by 2013.

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