Pedro Peduzzi and Sabrina Craide        Reporters Agência Brasil

Brasília – With the arrival of the dry season in the Amazon, the consortium (Norte Energia) that will build the Belo Monte dam and hydroelectric power plants began preliminary preparations on June 23. Spokespersons report that heavy machinery (37 machines) will be in action at the location known as Sitio Belo Monte, in the municipality of Vitória do Xingu, which lies some 50 kilometers from the main city in the region, Altamira. A construction site will be the first order of business: housing for workers, mess halls, offices, a medical center, warehouses, repair shops – all in all, a small city to house thousands of workers.

The consortium says that all heavy machinery will tested before it is used to ensure that it meets environmental standards with regard to emission levels.

Meanwhile, Norte Energia also announced that Vale, one of the world’s largest mining companies, will join the consortium with a 9% participation. At the same time further shifts in consortium shareholders are expected following the announcement that construction firms Cetenco, Contern, Queiroz Galvão, Mendes Júnior and Serveng will be leaving.

In other news from Belo Monte, a court in the state of Pará (where the dam is located) has ruled that the construction will not invade or affect indigenous areas. The decision was a blow to environment activists who have filed numerous lawsuits to halt the construction claiming that it will cause irreparable damage to local Indian communities. The motion in this case was filed by the social assistance group linked to the Catholic Church, Cimi (“Conselho Indigenista Missionário”), that works directly with Indians.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

Link - Primeiras máquinas pesadas chegam para obras da Usina de Belo Monte

Link - Norte Energia oficializa entrada da Vale no projeto de Belo Monte

Link - Começam as obras no primeiro canteiro da Hidrelétrica de Belo Monte

Link - Justiça reconhece que Hidrelétrica de Belo Monte não atinge terras indígenas