Brazil court blocks approval for 11,182-MW Belo Monte

A federal court in Brazil’s Para State has suspended the national environmental agency’s approval of environmental studies for the 11,182-MW Belo Monte hydroelectric project proposed for the Xingu River.

Environmental agency Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renovaveis (Ibama) accepted May 25, 2009, the documentation presented by national utility Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S/A (Eletrobras). (HydroWorld 3/3/09)

However, the court suspended the approval of the studies, state-owned Agencia Brasil reported. The action suspends licensing of the hydro project until Ibama explains the situation.

The federal prosecution service in Para said a portion of the demanded documents still were missing, including anthropological studies on the native communities affected by the project. Attorney General Rodrigo Timoteo said the indigenous peoples question caused debate and controversy about the project, so that Ibama cannot accept the studies with that gap.

Eletrobras performed the studies in anticipation of a concession auction to build and operate the project, scheduled for September 30. (HydroWorld 5/12/09) Eletrobras is expected to compete for the concession, but would be compensated for the studies if another bidder were to win the project.

Belo Monte is expected to be completed by April 2014 for an estimated investment of 7 billion reais (US$2.8 billion).