Río Madeira Complex | Bank Information Center: Monitoring the projects and policies of the World Bank, IMF and other international financial institutions


bicusa.org/ Problem Project Río Madeira Complex BIC is no longer actively working on this project. Overview Updates Images RSS Press Clipping \| 20 June 2011 Former deputies, MAS members and associates question the 5 years of Evo and gas After 5 years of the nationalization of gas, the transnationals are still have power over hydrocarbon, informs a statement of about thirty former authorities, union members, professionals, and activists that were until recently associated to MAS. Read more Update \| 14 June 2011 The easy credit that fueled Brazil's boom now imperils it Though the success of Latin America's largest economy is well known, less recognized is how much it owes to massive government lending. For a sense of the scale: The development bank's loans last year, just within Brazil, totaled triple the amount the World Bank lent to more than 100 countries. Read more Press Clipping \| 9 May 2011 Santander Denies Report It Halted Loans for Amazon Power Dam Banco Santander Brasil SA denied it temporarily suspended financing for the Santo Antonio hydroelectric dam in Brazil’s Amazon region. Read more Update \| 28 March 2011 Federal forces sent to control $6 Bn, 3.75 GW Jirau dam riots Brazilian security forces have been sent to the Jirau dam construction site where work has been stopped since riots erupted last week over working conditions. Read more Press Clipping \| 27 March 2011 Ex-Pres Clinton Criticizes Hydroelectricity in Amazon Read more Press Clipping \| 12 March 2011 Jirau negotiates R$ 900 million cost increase to Amazon megadam Read more Update \| 16 February 2011 Society, subsidies and BNDES As the Brazilian Treasury and BNDES look into the role that subsidies will play in the future of South America, Roberto Smeraldi of Friends of the Earth Brazil discusses how the question is not one of subsidies or not, but rather what subsidies will apply. Read more Press Release \| 20 January 2011 Risky business in the Amazon New report by Amigos da Terra - Amazonia and International Rivers reveals looming financial, legal and reputational disaster of Belo Monte, world's third largest dam project. Read more Press Clipping \| 12 January 2011 Brazil Environmental Minister Lays Out Key Challenges Ahead In interview with Valor, Minister Texiera key environmental focus for the new government is urban development Read more Update \| 24 December 2010 Brazil public prosecutor questions BNDES bridge loan to Belo Monte $US 618 million bridge loan from BNDES prior to full environmental license ignores grave risks. Read more Update \| 21 December 2010 CSOs call for World Bank to delay $500 million fransfer to BNDES Read more Press Clipping \| 14 November 2010 After Madeira, Alstom focuses on transmission of Belo Monte The French transnational has a US$400 million contract to link Rondonia to Sao Paulo, and now shifts attention to the Xingu region of Para. Read more Press Clipping \| 14 November 2010 Brazil's Electrobras learns Spanish The energy giant plans a global expansion in 2011 that by 2020 will generate 10% of total revenues from outside the region and allow Brazil to import energy for increasing demand. Read more Update \| 13 November 2010 Jirau launches environmental observatory Suez, the lead corporate member of the Jirau Energia Sustentavel consortium building the dam, launched a web based observatory run by youth in the community of Nova Mutum Paraná, Rondonia to provide information about the issues related to the 3,000 MW hydroelectric project and its influence on communities. Read more Press Clipping \| 13 November 2010 Jirau hydro bidding process proves to be test of energy market The energy auction proposed by Energia Sustentável do Brasil (ESBR) - winner of the Jirau hydroelectric project construction bid on the Madeira River, to sell part of hydroelectric energy from Jirau through the free market ended without a new contract. Jirau proposed energy prices between R$130 and R$140 per MWh Read more Update \| 13 November 2010 New video resources on Amazon dams Read more Press Clipping \| 13 November 2010 BNDES: energy disbursements total $US 5.5 billion in 2010 Read more Press Clipping \| 13 November 2010 Belo Monte construction delayed by state legal injunction The Federal Prosecutor in Pará sent to IBAMA recommendation not to issue a new environmental permit are not met while the 40 conditions of the preliminary license. Read more Press Clipping \| 30 October 2010 Brazil's national development bank found guilty of driving Amazon deforestation BNDES, Brazil's national development bank, contributed to Amazon deforestation by lending billions of dollars to commercial meatpackers, driving expansion of cattle ranching across the world's largest rainforest, ruled an audit by the Federal Audit Court. Read more Press Clipping \| 28 October 2010 The Developmentalist As head of BNDES, Luciano Coutinho revitalized the bank that now delivers credit to the largest industrial, technology and meat packing economic groups.` Read more Update \| 27 October 2010 WSJ: Brazil Engineers a Critic-Proof Dam A recent article about the 3,000 MW San Antonio hydroelectric dam being built in a highly sensitive international Amazon watershed purported that Brazil had surmounted the environmental and social criticism of the revived Amazon dam building plans for 24 such sites in the coming years. Critics respond the WSJ writer, John Lyons, ignored much of the evidence and argumentation provided to him, resulting in a one-sided presentation of San Antonio that results in a greenwashing of the highly problematic project. Read more Press Clipping \| 19 September 2010 Construction of 3.15 GW Santo Antonio HPP 35% completed Read more Press Clipping \| 25 August 2010 New Online Map Plots 140 Large Dams Planned for the Amazon Read more Press Clipping \| 25 August 2010 Fires: Visibility in Madeira River is close to Zero and People Suffer from Smoke Fires in the state of Rondonia continue to harm well-being of the people of Porto Velho. Read more Update \| 5 August 2010 UHE Jirau Read more Update \| 5 August 2010 Jirau: Photos and Videos of Turbine Placement Read more Press Clipping \| 2 August 2010 Plans for Bolivia-Brazil Energy Integration Arguing a pursuit of energy integration between Bolivia and Brazil, Brazil tries to prioritize hydroelectric projects in Bolivia's agenda, despite dissent from environmentalists. Read more Press Clipping \| 2 August 2010 Hydroelectric Dams: not all that glitters is gold In a conference in Cochabamba, representatives of Peru, Brazil and Bolivia discussed the future of the electricity market, in particular the possible impacts of the construction of new hydroelectric dams, a task which Brazil has taken an upper hand in. The debate begins. Read more Press Clipping \| 11 February 2010 Madeira: Brasil Public Ministry Hears Bolivian Grievances on Effects of Dam Read more Press Clipping \| 5 February 2010 Brazil Gives Green Light to World's Third Largest Dam Despite Kayapo protests over flawed consultation process, IBAMA has granted a preliminary license to move forward with the 11,000 MW - $20 billion Belo Monte hydroelectric dam. Brazilian government officials have threatened the Para Public Ministry not to bring lawsuits to block the dam. Read more Update \| 22 January 2010 Glenn Ross Switkes (1951-2009) Read more Update \| 6 January 2010 Cronología del Complejo Hidroeléctrico del Rio Madeira Read more Update \| 4 January 2010 UHE Santo Antonio Read more Update \| 1 January 2010 AHE Guajará-Mirim Read more Update \| 1 January 2010 UHE Cachuela Esperanza Read more Update \| 1 January 2010 Lineas de transmisión (complejo del río Madeira) Read more Update \| 1 January 2010 Esclusas del Complejo hidroeléctrico del río Madeira Read more Update \| 1 January 2010 La cuenca del rio Madeira Read more Update \| 1 January 2010 El complejo del río Madeira en los planes de infraestructura El complejo del Rio Madeira es un emprendimiento prioritario dentro de la iniciativa IIRSA y el Plan de Aceleramiento del Desarrollo (PAC) del gobierno brasilero. El complejo del río Madeira en los planes de infraestructura Read more Update \| 1 January 2010 Objetivos del Complejo Hidroeléctrico del rio Madeira Read more Press Clipping \| 14 December 2009 Amazon projects undercut Brazil's new green path Straddling one the Amazon's main tributaries and flanked by dense jungle, a construction pit the size of a small town bustles with bulldozers and nearly 10,000 workers blasting huge slabs of rock off the river bank. Read more Update \| 4 December 2009 Prince of Wales Rainforests Project Features Madeira River Dams Read more Press Clipping \| 30 November 2009 Brazil: Development bank funds destructive projects, say activists Public money in Brazil is being used by the state development bank to finance deforestation projects and others that trample rights, concentrate wealth, and encourage "imperialist" expansion of large national companies, according to activists at a three-day meeting in Rio de Janeiro. Read more Press Clipping \| 27 November 2009 Bolivia: Presidential Candidates Have No Plans to Confront Brazilian Dams Read more Press Clipping \| 27 November 2009 The Bolivian Government Plans to Invest in 13 Hydroelectric Projects The Bolivian state intends to recover its dominant role in the electricity sector through the execution of 13 large and medium size energy generation projects through the national Electricity Company (ENDE) with a planned investment of between $ 5.5 and 6 billion. Read more Press Clipping \| 27 November 2009 The Evaluation of Health Impacts of the Madeira Hydrolectric Dams Read more Press Release \| 10 November 2009 OAS CIDH Tracks Impacts of Megadams in Latin America AIDA, International Rivers, and IMDEC present evidence of human rights violations from dams. Read more Press Clipping \| 10 November 2009 Madeira Rivers Dams Denounced OAS CIDH Read more Press Clipping \| 25 October 2009 Rondonia State Assemby Seeks to Expedite Road Infrastructure Investment On June 5th, the Legislative Assembly of Rondônia convened a public hearing to seek alternatives for expediting resources amounting to approximately one billion reais, to be applied works directly on the federal highways in Rondônia. Read more Press Release \| 25 October 2009 Specialists question studies and vulnerability of Belo Monte Hydroelectric dam According to specialists, the unprecedented energy inefficiency of the project and the accelerated public hearing process demonstrate that the government and contractors will push for a large project at any cost. The Panel of Specialists warned the government and public about this grave mistake, whose real costs are unknown and whose environmental impact studies are incomplete. Read more Press Clipping \| 25 October 2009 Bolivia will invest US$5.000M in six hydroelectric dams The country plans to triple installed capacity with 3,290 MW of added hydroeletric power in the next 13 years in order to restrict thermoelectric power. Read more Press Clipping \| 25 October 2009 Jirau dam problems related to relocation After work was halted for 45 days, the licensee Sustainable Energy of Brazil, in charge of building the Jirau hydroelectric project on the Madeira River, is cautious about formalizing a request for an advance schedule for the entry into operation of the plant. The president of the company, Victor Paranhos, says it is entirely possible to begin generation of the first megawatts, but fears that new strikes could delay the work further. Read more Press Clipping \| 24 October 2009 New Study Shows Dam in Brazil Amazon Would Be Social and Ecological Disaster A new independent review by a panel of 40 Brazilian experts show the true costs of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Project, planned for the Xingu River in the Brazilian Amazon. The panel found that the dam would have serious consequences for the region, its inhabitants, and ecosystems of the Amazon rainforest. Read more Update \| 24 October 2009 Brazil Environment Ministers Wants to Facilitate Regional Licensing of Dams According to the executive secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Isabella Teixeira, the Brazilian Institute of Environment (IBAMA) is studying a way to streamline licensing by issuing regional licenses to address the country's increasing energy demands. Read more Press Clipping \| 14 September 2009 Jirau labor contractor keeps workers in slavelike conditions In a joint action by the Ministry of Labor (MPT) and the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) in Rondonia, and with support from the federal police, 38 people registered in the State of Maranhão (in Parnarama) to work for Construtora BS in Jacy Paraná were rescued and have had their employment contracts terminated. Read more Press Clipping \| 10 September 2009 Inambari: A Policy of Having no Policy Jorge Molina, of the Institute of Hydraulics and Hydrology of Bolivia, during the Symposium “Sustainable Hydroelectric Development in the Amazon and the Madeira River Basin Case". He criticized the current policy of Amazon countries concerning hydroelectric activity, allowing the implementation of mega projects in areas where the social and environmental impacts outweigh the possible benefits of such projects. Read more Update \| 9 September 2009 World Bank DPL to Brazil: Moving Money or Mainstreaming Environmental Sustainability? This article discusses the changing relationship between the Bank and Brazil within the context of a new $1.3 billion Development Policy Loan. It includes a review of the background and concerns associated with development policy lending since 2004, and then offers a detailed analysis of the Brazilian Sustainable Environmental Management (SEM) DPL. Read more Update \| 9 September 2009 Amazon Dieback Recent evidence suggests that there will be irreversible loss of up to 85% of the Amazon forests by 2100. Still, the prospect of Amazon die-back remains a somewhat misunderstood threat due to perceived uncertainty with the climate models, but also because of the lack of visibility by development institutions. Read more Press Clipping \| 1 September 2009 Union halts construction of the Santo Antonio plant for 4 hours On Monday morning, from 5 to 9, representatives of the Union of Construction Workers of the State of Rondônia (Sticcero) blocked the gate of the construction site of the Santo Antônio plant, causing more than three miles of line on the access road in order to promote deliberative assembly with indications of a general strike. Read more Press Clipping \| 31 August 2009 Animal Droppings can replace "Jirau" Waste, particularly manure, can also generate income for farmers, FAO study shows. Read more Update \| 21 August 2009 The Madeira dams: impacts and actions in Bolivian territory Jirau and Santo Antonio promise to cost much more than the stated financial value of their construction: deforestation, disease, damage to fish population just to name a few. These and other costs, however, will not be paid only by Brazilians; Bolivians are also facing some of the costs of this venture. Read more Press Clipping \| 20 August 2009 The Madeira hydroelectric complex can negatively affect the environment Brazil is building hydroelectric dams in the Amazon that some technicians and economists applaud while several environmentalists regret. It is worth the risk and investment? Read more Press Clipping \| 20 August 2009 Construction of Jirau and San Antonio dams change the life of the region An examination of how the hydroelectric plants of Jirau and Santo Antônio will impact the environment and the lives of Amazonian communities. Read more Update \| 13 August 2009 MAB Organizes protest encampment at Madeira San Antonio site Read more Press Clipping \| 29 July 2009 Leader says that isolated indigenous people will be harmed by hydroelectic dams of Madeira The first indigenous woman elected leader and educator of the people Sagarana in Rondônia, Eva Canoe, said the construction of hydroelectric dams in the Madeira river, in Rondônia, will affect at least four indigenous peoples that still live in voluntary isolation in the region. Read more Update \| 28 July 2009 The assertion that the Madeira Complex will not have impacts in Bolivia is only a Brazilian speech While the hydroelectric plants of Jirau and Santo Antonio in the Madeira river begin their construction, Bolivian organizations and institutes following the projects say that the negative impacts generated by the two dams will be felt not only in Brazilian territory, but also in Bolivia. Read more Update \| 28 July 2009 Environmental licenses for San Antonio and Jirau hydroelectric dams open discussions Environmental organizations have mobilized against licensing of Santo Antônio and Jirau hydroelectric dams Read more Press Clipping \| 22 July 2009 Fobomade study warns of Madeira dam effect on dengue and malaria "Under the current" (“Bajo el caudal…”) is a report by Fobomade that details the possible impacts of the construction of two hydroelectric dams over the Madeira river on the Bolivian northern border with Brazil. Read more Press Clipping \| 21 July 2009 Group claims that inhabitants are being forced from area of Santo Antonio Groups claim that, because of the construction taking place for the Rio Madera Complex, the area's inhabitants are being forced unwillingly from their homes. Read more Update \| 10 July 2009 Ichilo – Mamoré Industrial Waterway Read more Press Clipping \| 9 July 2009 Environmental lawsuits filed against Madeira dam projects Civil lawsuits have been filed against Brazil’s environment institute for ignoring environmental concerns when issuing licences to allow the construction of two dams on the Amazon’s Madeira River. Read more Press Clipping \| 6 July 2009 Suez acclerates Jirau works and negotiates the exit of Camargo Correa Brazilian firm has six months to sell its 9.99% share of the project. Read more Update \| 1 July 2009 Civil society demands suspension of Madeira Dams Numerous irregularities cited in environmental licensing process for the San Antonio & Jirau dams Read more Update \| 28 May 2009 Rio Madeira - Hydroelectric Dam will impact the Northern Bolivian Amazon (part two) Crown jewel of the IIRSA project portfolio under scrutiny in Bolivia and Brazil Read more Update \| 27 May 2009 Rio Madeira - Hydroelectric Dam will impact the Northern Bolivian Amazon Crown Jewel of the IIRSA Project Portfolio Under Scrutiny in Bolivia and Brazil Read more Update \| 22 May 2009 Scientists agree on the need for energy alternatives in Amazon Two day conference underscores the need for improvements in the quality of social, environmental and economic evaluation, as well as the search for energy alternatives. Read more Press Clipping \| 21 May 2009 Jirau dam cost overruns predicted to be 60% Unexplained revisions by the Consortium building the Jirau hydroelectric dam (part of the Rio Madeira complex) to the design of the initial project that was auctioned one year ago are expected to increase the overall project costs by 60% Read more Press Clipping \| 21 May 2009 Studies for Cachuela Esperanza dam ready in five months Consultant Tecsult-Aecom along with ENDE, Bolivia's National Electricity Company, are in the final phases of the feasibility and design process for the proposed hydroelectric project, Cachuela Esperanza, which is expected to conclude in October, 2009 Read more Update \| 3 May 2009 Rio Madeira Hydrolectric Complex - video resources Read more Press Clipping \| 27 April 2009 The FI-FGTS will become a shareholder of the Madeira river complex In a time when the financial market is lacking credit, the fund for investment in infrastructure which derives its resources from the FGTS (FI-FGTS) will contribute R$ 1,640 billion in financing to the construction of the San Antonio hydroelectric plant in the Madeira river, and become a shareholder of the consortium. Read more Press Clipping \| 27 April 2009 Santander sells part of its share in the consortium of the Madeira river Complex Santander sold half of its shares in the consortium building the San Antonio Hydroelectric Plant in the Madeira River to the FI-FGTS (Investment Fund FGTS) Read more Press Clipping \| 16 April 2009 Bolivia ratified its concern about the impact of dams being built by Brazil Read more Press Clipping \| 19 March 2009 Bolivia worries about the impact of Brazilian dams Bolivians worry about potential flooding and health problems that will result from two dams which are part of the Rio Madeira project. Read more Press Clipping \| 19 March 2009 Bolivians and Brazilians oppose the privatization of Rio Madeira Both Bolivians and Brazilians do not agree with the privatization of the Rio Madeira. For different reasons but the same objective, the Bolivians and Brazilians join forces to oppose the privatization. Read more Update \| 19 March 2009 Brazil and Bolivia discuss hydroelectric dams of Rio Madeira Bolivians fear negative impacts from two dams (part of the Rio Madeira) in Bolivian territory. The Brazilian Minister, Celso Amorim assures the Bolivian government that the construction of the dams will not have these negative impacts. Read more Press Clipping \| 18 March 2009 Madeira's dams and the new constitution For only the last two years has the Bolivian government paid attention to the impacts of dams in indigenous territory. Read more Update \| 5 March 2009 Brazilian NGOs urge World Bank not to approve $1.3 billion loan for environment Several organizations and social networks have asked the World Bank to postpone a decision on a $1.3 billion project in Brazil. The groups argue that prior loans have not adequately addressed environmental concerns and that the pending project-loan has the potential to continue this trend. Moreover, the groups see attractive alternatives. Read more Update \| 23 February 2009 BNDES approves largest loan ever $3 bn for 3.3 GW Jirau dam Brazil's national development bank BNDES has approved 7.2bn reais (US$3.1bn) in financing to build the 3.3GW Jirau hydro plant, the bank said in a statement. Jirau is one of two mega hydro projects on the Madeira river in Rondônia state that will be connected to the national grid. The loan will go to the ESBR consortium and includes support for the transmission system that will link the plant to the city of Porto Velho, according to the statement. The financing, which will cover 68.5% of the required investment, is one of the largest loans ever granted by the bank for a single project. In December 2008, BNDES authorized 6.1bn reais in funding for the 3.15GW Santo Antônio hydro project. Read more Press Clipping \| 1 January 2009 Land conflicts continue in Rondonia The state of Rondonia, Brazil is subject to ongoing land conflicts between large land owners, small farmers and the state. The proposed hydroelectric dams on the Madeira River and the promise of jobs will only accelerate uncontrolled migration to the region. Weak governance results in frequent, violent confrontations over natural resource use. Read more Press Clipping \| 24 December 2008 Madeira dam operator responsible for massive fish kill The Madeira Energy S/A (Mesa) business consortium, responsible for the construction of the Santo Antônio 3,100 MW hydroelectric dam, the first of several mega-dams planned for the Madeira in the Brazilian state of Rondônia, was fined R$ 7,7 million ($US 3.3 million) by the Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (Ibama) as a penalty for their responsibility in the ecological accidente that resulted in the death of 11 tons of fish. Read more Update \| 23 December 2008 Update on Oct. 30 Madeira bilateral technical commission meeting The October meeting between the Brazilian and Bolivian bilerateral technical commission on the Madeira Hydroelectric Dam and related projects focused on new technical research related to the cross-border health effects of the project. Read more Update \| 22 June 2008 “Aguas Turvas”: new book that explains the never ending socio-environmental problems of the Madeira Complex The launching will take place on June 25th in Porto Velho, Brazil. There will be a roundtable with experts and affected communities who will share the conclusions. Read more Update \| 20 June 2008 Brazil:Legal block on Estreito river diversion work River diversion work for the Estreito project in Brazil has been stopped by a court in Maranhao state but the rest of the construction activity is unaffected, IWP&DC has learned. Read more Update \| 19 May 2008 Brazil: Suez consortium wins Jirau auction with US$43.30/MWh bid The Consórcio Energia Sustentável do Brasil (CESB) group led by France's Suez has presented the winning bid to build and operate Brazil's 3.3GW Jirau hydro plant on the Madeira river. Read more Update \| 14 May 2008 Brazil's environment minister quits in protest Marina Silva's resignation is linked to her opposition to many of the major megaprojects planned and underway in the Brazilian Amazon, including two large hydroelectric dams on the Madeira River Read more Update \| 5 February 2008 Terna CEO says group to take part in 3 Brazilian bids this year Terna SpA CEO Flavio Cattaneo said the group will take part in at least three bids for grid operations in Brazil in 2008. Read more Update \| 10 December 2007 Começa leilão da usina de Santo Antônio Começou por volta das 12h35 o leilão da hidrelétrica de Santo Antônio, no Rio Madeira (RO), organizado na sede da Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (Aneel), em Brasília. Na primeira etapa, os investidores farão uma proposta única para o preço da energia que será produzida pela usina. Nenhum dos três consórcios inscritos terá como saber qual foi o lance oferecido pelos demais interessados. Read more Update \| 6 December 2007 Environmentalists go to court to suspend the auction of Rio Madeira Dam Project With the auction for the Rio Madeira Project approaching, civil society is accelerating campaigns against the dams. Read more Update \| 19 November 2007 Human rights organization in Brasil investigates human right violations from Madeira project The National Report plans a mission to Rondonia to investigate the human rights violations from the Madeira Complex. Read more Update \| 25 October 2007 High financial risks dispersed throughout Rio Madeira Dam Project Study by Amigos da Terra warns investors: Methodology is based on credit rating agencies approach. Read more Update \| 17 October 2007 Brazil Again Postpones First Rio Madeira Power Auction- Estado Brazil’s Mines and Energy Minister Nelson Hubner announced Wednesday that the auction of the rights to build Madeira’s Santo Antonio power plant will be delayed until November 29th according to Estado new agency. Read more Update \| 8 October 2007 South America chokes as Amazon burns The Amazon region is endangered of disappearing as vast areas of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay are wrapped in smoke. Roberto Smeraldi, from Friends of the Earth Brazil, said the current situation was out of control. He was very clear as to who is to blame “…they are mainly the results of expanding cattle ranching.” Read more Update \| 16 August 2007 Scarcity in the midst of surplus: Brazil's energy policy Thanks partly to ethanol from sugar cane, Brazil aims to be an energy superpower. But can it keep its own lights on? Read more Update \| 14 August 2007 Santo Antônio auction scheduled for October 30 Brazil's mines and energy ministry (MME) has scheduled for October 30 the auction to build and operate the 3.15GW Santo Antônio hydroelectric plant, MME said on its website. Santo Antônio will start selling power in 2012, MME said. Read more Update \| 30 July 2007 Researcher predicts that hydro power plants will incite rural conflicts Rural conflicts over water will likely increase in the next few years due to hydro infrastructure projects within the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC). Read more Update \| 27 July 2007 War on the Madeira Dispute between the Camargo Corrêa and Norberto Odebrecht construction companies over the hydroelectric plants leads to heated exchanges of accusations and puts pressure on government institutions Read more Update \| 22 July 2007 Chesf exec: Eletrobrás could be key partner for Madeira Read more Update \| 22 July 2007 BNDES to provide full support for Madeira project - Brazil Read more Update \| 17 July 2007 Suez SA plans to bid on the construction of Rio Madeira dams Suez SA, Europe's fifth largest electricity producer, plans to bid on rights to build hydroelectric dams in Brazil's Amazon region. Read more Update \| 12 June 2007 Brazilian Government Moves to Dam Principal Amazon Tributary In recent weeks, the Brazilian government has turned to the difficult task of building giant hydroelectric dams in the Amazon River. The project presents President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with a major contradiction—between his ambitious economic development plan based on large-scale infrastructure, and the enormous social and environmental costs of the dams. Read more Update \| 26 April 2007 Neighboring countries may request suspension of projects on the Madeira Peru and Bolivia may request an injunction in Brazilian court if there is any threat to their territories caused by projects on the Madeira River Read more Update \| 2 March 2007 Brazil offers Bolivia “a gift” – but at what cost? The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Andean Development Corporation (CAF), the state electric utility Furnas and construction conglomerate Odebrecht have drawn up plans for the most ambitious of IIRSA’s 335 projects – under which the Amazon’s principal tributary would be converted into a series of great lakes for hydroelectricity, in the process converting the rivers into a 4,200 km-long barge channel that will hasten the conversion of Amazonia into a vast soy plantation... Read more Update \| 7 January 2007 Brazil's Lula rules out energy and gas shortages Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sought on Wednesday to play down gas shortages in Rio de Janeiro, saying that the country's energy supplies were guaranteed until 2012. Read more Update \| 1 December 2005 Madeira River Complex Brazil´s Amazonian state of Rondônia is best known for the disastrous Polonoroeste colonization Project, financed by the World Bank, which accelerated the transformation of the region in the 1980’s from tropical rainforests into an environmental and social nightmare. Read more Print this page Email this page

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