Paula Laboissière Reporter Agência Brasil
Brasília - President Dilma Rousseff will visit Paraguay on June15, according to the Foreign Minister, Antonio Patriota. The information was released on Tuesday, May 3, during a visit by the foreign ministerof Paraguay, Jorge Lara Castro.
According to Patriota, a bill authorizing Brazil to triple the amount paid to Paraguay for excess energy from the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant was also discussed at the meeting [note: the bill was approved by the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies on May 3 (and is scheduled for a vote in the Senate on May 10). Itaipu, built between 1974 and 1982, long the world's largest hydroelectric power plant (total capacity of 14,000 MW), is now second to Three Gorges in China. Located in the Paraná River on the border between Brazil and Paraguay, the two disparate countries "share" its production. Brazil with 190 million people and an economy that is one of the ten biggest in the world, and Paraguay, one of the world's poorest countries with a population of 6.5 million. Annually Itaipu produces around 90 billion kWh. Brazil and Paraguay have rights to 50% of the total electricity generated, but Paraguay uses only 5% of what is has a right to and exports its excess electrcity to energy-hungry Brazil. Thus, in 2008, Paraguay exported almost 45 billion kWh to Brazil. The treaty signed in the 1970s established that Brazil would pay Paraguay a fixed price for the excess energy. It is that treaty, and the price, that has just been changed. Instead of paying Paraguya $120 million annually, Brazil has agreed to triple the payment to $360 million.]
"Paraguay is the Latin American economy that grew most in2010. GDP growth was 15.3%. Indeed, it was one of the fastest growing economiesin the world. And, of course, it is right next door to Brazil", said Patriota.
The Paraguayan foreign minister called the passage of the revision of the Itaipu treaty bill an important step towards ntegration in the region. According to Castro, bilateral relations between Brazil and Paraguay have achieved significant advances, reflected in agreements such as the Itaipu revision.
"The governments of Paraguay and Brazil are both sensitive to social problems,” Castro said, as he emphasized that both countries have a strong commitment in the area of human rights. "We believe cooperation with Brazil will be an important factor in our development,” the minister concluded.
Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English - content modified
Link - Patriota confirma viagem de Dilma para o Paraguai no próximo dia 15
