Brazil’s Minister of Planning, Miriam Belchior, has again stressed today (August 22) that the construction of the Belo Monte dam is sustainable. She said the government is taking all the necessary measures to reduce the negative impact caused by the construction in the state of Para. "You show common sense through action, and we are acting," she said, referring to the protests against the dam construction last weekend in some Brazilian cities. The Minister said that anyone with a technically informed view of the dam will be convinced of the benefits it will provide.

The Minister took part today in a debate in São Paulo about the electrical sector and hydroelectric projects in Brazil. She gave the opening talk in the seminar "Hydroelectric projects: the country’s needs and respect for sustainability."

The Minister stressed the increased supply of electrical energy that will come from the new model in the sector and the work done in the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC). The annual average electricity supply between 2003 and 2010 was 53% up on the period 1995-2002. According to the Minister, the main goals of the PAC in the energy sector have been achieved. She said there had been a boost to public and private investment in infrastructure, job creation and income growth and accelerated economic growth. In Electrical Energy Generation, PAC 1 held fifteen energy tender offers generating 42,379 MW of energy with investment of around R$ 106 billion. Between 2007 and 2010, 162 projects were concluded, in investments totaling R$ 23.5 billion and another 61 projects are underway, in investment totaling R$ 58.7 billion.

For PAC 2, the energy transmission target is to provide greater security and reliability in the supply of electrical energy. The investment between 2011 and 2014 will be R$ 30 billion. According to the Minister, the increased generation of electrical energy depends on hydroelectrical stations in the Amazon. She referred to the construction of power stations in Santo Antonio and Jirau on the Madeira River as examples of progress in the environmental area. Belchior guaranteed that what has been learned in the licensing processes for these power stations will be applied in the Belo Monte project. She said in social and environmental grants alone Belo Monte will receive R$ 3.5 billion.

23 August, 2011