Treating nature with care

Santo Antônio Energia believes that the environmental impacts resulting from the installation of the Santo Antônio hydroelectric plant can be reduced by taking measures to mitigate and offset them. In this context, it is committed to conserving and protecting the region of the Amazon ecosystem where the project is located during the construction and operational phases.

This commitment is in line with Brazil´s environmental legislation and the Equator Principles and is expressed in all aspects of the undertaking beginning with the choice of the generation technology:  the use of 44 bulb turbines will reduce the area to be flooded considerably. The reservoir will measure 271 km², slightly more than the natural area of the river when it is at its highest level and six times lower than would be needed with conventional turbines. This brings one of the lowest ratios between the size of the reservoir and the generation power of all Brazilian plants: 0.09 km²/mW.

The commitment to the environment began long before the start of the project. Complex studies on the technical and environmental viability (Environment Impact and Report Study - EIA/RIMA) were carried out over six years. As soon as the Prior License was granted, work started on the Basic Environmental Project (PBA) which describes the executive projects and measures to deal adequately with all the impacts diagnosed in the EIA/RIMA study. The document was approved by the Brazilian environmental agency Ibama, supporting the granting of the Installation License. As well as listing all the programs aimed at reducing and/or offsetting the impacts during the construction and operation of the Santo Antônio HEP, the document also served as a base for defining the environmental management of the plant.

The document lays down programs to rescue the fauna and flora from the woodland areas which are being used for the worksite and the future reservoir, among other measures. The species are being monitored permanently and the animals encountered trapped and taken to selected release areas. Those which need veterinary treatment are treated and later released. During the woodcutting, seeds, orchids, bromeliads and other kinds of local flora are collected and used to produce seedlings to recover the landscape around the reservoir and educational activities.

Santo Antônio Energia is also focusing on spreading knowledge that will support the development of educational environmental actions and training people who are committed to defend one of the world´s richest ecosystems and ensure that future generations have access to natural resources.