With above-average rainfall in some areas of Brazil in January, the levels of hydroelectric reservoirs are rising rapidly, which has resulted in the opening of the floodgates of the plants, said the Ministry of Mines and Energy this Saturday (14).
The opening of the hydroelectric plant spillways is necessary within the flood control plans, but also when there is a reduction in energy demand, as is the case expected for January, explained the ministry.
In recent days, spillage has begun at the plants on the Madeira River, in the Belo Monte complex, and in the basins of the São Francisco and Rio do Grande rivers, according to a note from the ministry.
The Ministry said that some areas of the country recorded above-average rainfall throughout the month. “This has been causing the levels of the reservoirs to rise rapidly, making it necessary to activate plans to control floods and spillage in many basins”, said the folder in the note. The measure is necessary to guarantee the safety of the dams and due to the lower demand for energy in some regions amid milder temperatures.
According to the Ministry, citing a forecast by the National System Operator (ONS), by the end of January there should be “high turnout” (above 80%) in all regions of the country.
“Once the worst water shortage in history has been overcome, hydroelectric plants in various regions of the country have started to open their floodgates since last week,” said the ministry, referring to the 2021 drought.
“The exceptional spillage occurs as a result of a significant recovery of the levels of the main reservoirs of the National Interconnected System (SIN). The reservoirs already exceed 60% of storage in this month of January”, punctuated the statement.
For the next few days, spillage is expected to start at the Tucuruí Hydroelectric Plant, in Pará.
At the Itaipu Binacional plant, the gates of the left channel were opened this Saturday, with a flow of 1,400 (m³/s), said the ministry, adding that the spillover forecast is for ten days, but the schedule can be changed.
The hydroelectric plants in the Southeast/Center-West, where the plants with the largest lakes are located, should reach 67% of capacity by the end of January, according to the ONS.
Lower demand
On the eve, the ONS again reduced its energy load projection for January, given the lower demand for electricity.
The expectation now is for a 2.2% retreat in the first month of 2023 in the annual comparison, against a 0.8% drop expected last week.
According to the ONS, “milder temperatures in January in the capitals of the Southeast, Midwest and South, compared to the median temperatures at this time of summer” is one of the factors that may explain the reduction in demand for energy in these regions.
With information from Reuters and Agência Estado
Source: CNN Brasil
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