A publication by the Renewable Energy Forum evaluates the impact of a hydroelectric power plant in the State

The work provides technical studies and evaluations by experts in relation to the project power plant

The Renewable Energy Forum has published a digital book that evaluates the risks and impacts in the construction of the Bem Querer hydroelectric power plant, located in Roraima. The publication was made in partnership with iCS and released on June 5, when World Environment Day was celebrated.

Among the main concerns of the experts are the wide areas of ​​flooding that affect forests, urban and rural areas, farms and indigenous lands; the high hydrological risk with low or no energy generation during the dry period; the rising water table and the increase in flooding during the rainy season, especially in Boa Vista; the significant economic losses in agriculture and livestock, roads, tourism, fishing and leisure due to the flooded areas; the loss of important natural resources such as the rapids of Bem and Querer and 130 km of beaches on the Rio Branco; the high emission of methane gas from the reservoir of the plant; and the negative impacts in the indicators of health, safety, education and cost of living, mainly in Caracaraí, among other concerns.

The construction of the Bem Querer hydroelectric power plant began in 2007 and, despite several modifications throughout the process, such as the reduction in power from 708 to 650 MW, significant risks and uncertainties related to the project still persist. These include concerns with respect to the extent of flooding and the increase in the water table. Furthermore, there are doubts regarding the generating capacity of the plant during the dry period, with a possibility of a fall in production to low or zero levels, due to the operational characteristics of the plant.

Photograph: An e-book addresses the impacts of the Bem Querer hydroelectric power plant. Reproduction/Website