Rio, 15 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - On Friday the government successfully auctioned off 35-year concession contracts for eight new hydroelectric power plants which will add 1,584 MW to the country's electricity network and bring in revenue of R$320 million (US$117.7 million). The new plants are located in five states where they will supply electricity to over 12 million inhabitants. Three of them will be operational by 2006, four by 2007, and the last by 2008. The construction will create 39,000 jobs. The contracts were auctioned off at the minimum asking prices and will be built by companies from Brazil, Belguim, the United States, England and Canada. (AB)