Luana Lourenço      Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – At the beginning of June, the Environmental Protection Institute (“Ibama”) authorized the construction of another hydroelectric power plant in the Amazon region. This is the Santo Antònio do Jari plant, on the Jari River, which runs along the borders of the states of Pará and Amapa. It is not to be confused with the Santo Antônio power plant located on the Madeira River on the other side of the Amazon in the state of Rondônia.

Santo Antonio do Jari is a small power plant, planned to have installed capacity of 373 megawatts that will supply cellulose industries in the region. In fact, some of those industries are partners in the construction project.

Praxis in hydroelectric power plant construction in the Amazon is a long list of “environmental and social preconditions” (“condicionantes”) to ensure the protection of flora, fauna and local inhabitants (and their way of life).

For example, at the huge Belo Monte hydroelectric project (11,200 MW), there are 40 “condicionantes.” Santo Antônio do Jari will be built in an area where eucalyptus plantations already exist so no further deforestation will be required or expropriation of land belonging to riverside dwellers.

The reservoir behind the Santo Antônio do Jari dam will flood only 31.7 square kilometers, a relatively small area. Among the “condicionanates,” is a requirement to maintain river flow sufficient to preserve the “scenic beauty of the Santo Antônio waterfall as a tourist attraction year around.”

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

Link - Ibama concede licença de instalação para Hidrelétrica Santo Antônio do Jari