Belo Monte Dam Project: Key Facts and Criticisms

The Belo Monte Dam is a hydroelectric dam complex being built on the Xingu River in Brazil. The planned capacity of the Belo Monte dam complex would be 11,233 megawatts (MW). It would be the second-largest hydroelectric dam complex in Brazil and world’s third largest in installed capacity trailing behind the China’s Three Gorges Dam and Itaipu Dam (located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay). This hydroelectric dam complex consists of three dams, many dykes and a series of canals to supply two different power stations with water. This project is scheduled to be complete in 2019.

Why it is being built?

Brazil’s rapid economic growth since the last decade has created a huge demand for stable sources of energy. With increasing economic prosperity it is estimated that Brazil needs to add around 6,000MW each year for the next decade to satisfy its needs especially to supply its growing industries. Brazil mainly depends upon renewable sources of energy and the Brazilian government is giving priority for constructing hydroelectric dams to guarantee energy security as Brazil has the world’s third biggest hydropower potential after China and Russia.

Belo Monte Dam’s minimum generation capacity is 4571 MW, which is 39% of its maximum capacity. The electricity generated from this project is proposed to be used throughout the country for residential and commercial consumption especially to the industries like aluminium transformation and metallurgy.

Apart from hydroelectric power Brazil has many avenues for generating electricity. Brazil is rich in solar energy, wind energy and offshore oil and gas deposits. At present, Brazil generates approximately 80% of its electricity from hydro plants, which is far higher than the other countries. Also, it is estimated that two-thirds of its hydro potential is untapped.

Criticism and Controversies

Although, this project looks promising for meeting the nation’s energy security, there is opposition both within Brazil and among the international community.

Opponents question the dam’s economic viability, generation efficiency and its impacts on the region’s people and environment. Critics argue that the dams look cheaper only because the impact on local population and other uses of rivers such as fishing, transport and biodiversity are not taken into account.

The following are listed as the possible adverse effects:

Social effects

Belo Monte dam is expected to flood a total area of 668 square kilometers out of which 400 square kilometers of flooded area will be forested land. River diversion through canals is expected to reduce the water supply in the river by 80% in the area where the indigenous tribes such as Juruna and Arara inhabit. The river diversion may lead to involuntary displacement of these tribal people as their livelihood activities and ability to transport on the river gets adversely affected. In addition, it estimated the construction of dam would displace 20,000 people.

The project is estimated to attract 100,000 migrants to the area which may lead to increased social tension between groups and put pressure on health services and schools. Although, an estimated 18,700 direct and 25,000 indirect jobs are proposed to be created, only a fraction of the jobs is likely to stay after the completion of the project.

The protesters’ complain that they have not been properly consulted. The Brazilian constitution mandates that before exploiting any resource on Amerindian lands, proper consultation with the inhabitants must be carried out by the government. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) also has a similar clause (Convention 169 on indigenous rights), to which Brazil is a signatory.

Emission of green house gas

The National Amazon Research Institute (INPA) has estimated that the dam is likely to emit 11.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in its first 10 years. In addition it is estimated that it would further emit 0.783 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent while constructing and connecting it to the national energy grid.

Reservoirs in tropical regions are known to release huge amounts of methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. Dams in Brazil due to the environmental conditions are expected to emit huge amounts of methane. As the basin fills, the carbon gets trapped by the foliage which gets converted in to methane by its anaerobic decay with the help of methanogens. So as a result, huge amount of green house gas is likely to get emitted from the dam during its operation. The vast and stagnant reservoir makes them as a perfect “methane factory” which emits more greenhouse gases than even the most inefficient coal plant does.

Loss of biodiversity

The Xingu River is rich in fish fauna and is estimated to have 600 species of fish with high degree of endemism. With the construction of the dam, the river may not be able to maintain its species diversity leading to the extinction of many species of fishes. The species like black and white-patterned Zebra Pleco fish (found only on the Xingu River) is likely to become extinct if the hydroelectric complex is built. The other species such as Sunshine Pleco (Scobinancistrus aureatus), the Slender Dwarf Pike Cichlid (Teleocichla centisquama), the Plant-eating Piranha (Ossubtus xinguense) and the Xingu Dart-Poison frog (Allobates crombiei) are other species whose very existence is threatened by the Belo Monte dam.

Human rights violations and condemnation by International bodies

The project has been strongly criticized internationally for violating the human rights of the indigenous people. The UN Human Rights Council has denounced the careless construction methods adopted by the Brazilian government. Similarly, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has also expressed its displeasure over the violation of ILO conventions such as Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 No.169.

Background

The plan for the dam started as early as 1975 but was postponed due to controversies it created. Later in 2000s, the dam was redesigned but was again caught with opposition over the controversial impact assessment that was carried out. In 2010, contract for construction of the dam was signed with Norte Energia. In June 2011, the full license to construct the dam was issued by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA). It was followed by several court battles and the latest ruling of the court allows construction activities in the dam.