Brazilian bank approves loan of 360 million reais for hydroelectric power projects
12/6/2007 16:46
Brazil's National Bank of Social and Economic Development yesterday
approved a loan of 360 million reais (US$183.7 million) to finance the
construction of five small hydroelectric power plants in the mid-west state of
Mato Grosso.
The loan is part of the government program designed to support
alternative energy sources, said the bank.
The five new plants, along the
Juruena River, will be ready to start operation by December 2008 with a total
energy production capacity of 91.4 megawatts. They have contracts signed with
Brazil's power giant Eletrobras, under which they will sell energy to the
government-run company.
Experts tend to favor the construction of smaller
hydroelectric power plants due to their less negative impact on the
environment.
The bank currently supports 35 small hydroelectric power
projects, investing a total of 2.9 billion reais (US$1.48 billion). Altogether,
these plants are expected to produce 791 megawatts of
electricity.
Xinhua
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