06.10.2008
“Delivery” Environmental License

Telma Delgado Monteiro

Despite been considered by Ibama “not suitable for damming”, the case of Araguaia River has nowadays become a “point of understanding” between the Ministry of Mining and Energy (MME) and the Ministry of Environment (MMA) allowing them to avoid the “environmental obstacles” for the Santa Isabel and Couto Magalhães hydroelectric plants.

The understanding between the two ministries will open the way for the construction of hydroelectric plant Santa Isabel, the concession for which was given seven years ago to Vale do Rio Doce. The project has been actually resurrected by a “more pragmatic” Ibama according to Maurício Tolmasquim, president of the Energy Research Company (EPE).

The word of order in the Ministry of Environment with relation to the Araguaia River is “flexibility”, despite the prospect of grave environmental and social destruction on indigenous lands, ecosystems and archaeological sites.

The 2001 project for the Santa Isabel plant threatens the incredible archaeological patrimony of ceramics and paintings. Archaeologists warn for the direct impact on more than 100 sites in the region which will be submerged under water. The island of Martírios, with approximately 5.000 rock paintings will be eternally condemned.

The energy font is in fact expanding rapidly in the whole Araguaia region to the despair of the defenders of the Cerrado Biome!

A big deal for some, a big disaster for others

Dam construction in Brazil is big business which enjoys privileges and incentives from both the federal and state governments who generally facilitate access to construction companies to financial and other resources. Only in the State of Tocantins there are 31 Small Hydroelectric Plants (PCHs) and Large Hydroelectric Plants (UHEs) projects under elaboration.

Construction companies Andrade Gutierrez, Camargo Corrêa and Odebrecht are the closest partners of Eletrobrás in it quest to transform the Amazon region into a huge worksite. And the federal government which gives incentives to the prophets of total blackout, proposes changes to environmental legislation in order to facilitate itself with dam license concession.

For this process which reminds the darker days of the Brazilian political history, ministries are seeking magic formulas to “perfect” and speed up the environmental licensing process. “Delivery” environmental license is the latest product launched by the new environment minister Carlos Minc.

The 2002 technical reports from Ibama (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Energy Resources), confirm the environmental irrationality of hydroelectric dams on Araguaia River. For the president of Ibama, Roberto Messias Franco “it will be easy to emit these environmental licenses”. It won’t be the first time he ignores the recommendations of Ibama’s technical advisors. He has done that recently with the Santo Antônio hydroelectric dam on Madeira River in the heart of the Amazonian region.

There is talk of incompatibility of national interests with the criteria of environmental licensing. Therefore, society has to review which are the real interests of the country, especially since there is also talk of the “environmental obstacles” when the government and the electric sector refer to the laws which guarantee the citizens’ right to an equilibrated environment.

And this in particular, is guaranteed from the Federal Constitution.