Study of energy potential of Xingu River is being evaluated by ANEEL

By: 
Jõao Porto, Amazônia National Radio
Date: 
Thursday, November 1, 2007

Brasília - A study on the possibilities of building hydroelectric dams
on the Xingu River, which flows through Mato Grosso and Pará states,
has been delivered to the National Electrical Energy Agency (ANEEL).

Studies for the document, which the Federal Attorney´s office (MPF)
and indigenous leaders who live along the river have been expecting,
was carried out by Eletrobrás and by the companies Odebrecht, Camargo
Corrêa, and Andrade Gutierrez, and the document was delivered
yesterday (Oct. 31).

In an event last week, Glenn Switkes, the Latin America Director of
the non-governmental organization International Rivers, said that the
report would present a plan to build four additional upstream dams -
Altamira, Pombal, São Félix, and Montante Jarina - in addition to Belo
Monte.

"We have obtained a copy of the river basin study, and it shows that
Eletrobrás is planning to build four more dams on the river", said the
environmentalist.

The possibility of dam construction on the Xingu River is of concern
to the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian
Amazon (COIAB). COIAB coordinator Jecinaldo Sateré-Mawé says that if
this information is true, the dams will hurt many indigenous communities.

"COIAB is totally against this new plan by the government, and we are
also against the building of Belo Monte Dam, in Pará". The dam, one of
the principal energy projects of the government´s Growth Acceleration
Plan has not yet had its environmental studies analyzed.

During last week´s event, Federal Attorney Felício Pontes of Pará said
this information will be investigated. "We are very concerned, and we
will ask Eletrobrás to confirm or deny this information".

Neither ANEEL nor Eletrobrás released the content of the study. The
National Electrical Energy Agency (ANEEL) said it will examine the
report and will issue an opinion after analyzing it, with no timetable
yet being set.

Eletrobrás´ press agents said the company would make no comment, but
confirmed that the document had been completed.