Included by the National Congress in the Provisional Measure, converted into law, which deals with the privatization of Eletrobras, the future thermoelectric plants planned for the country will cost BRL 52 billion extra by 2036.
This, only in activation expenses, which experts criticize, for generating impact for the consumer in the light bill.
The number is from the Energy Research Company (EPE), a state-owned company linked to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, and was published in the Ten Year Energy Expansion Plan (PDE) 2031.
The proposal has been qualified in the political environment as a “tortoiseshell”, something that happens when a subject is included in the proposal, without being related to the main theme. In this case, the capitalization of Eletrobras.
Specialists criticize the measure and point out that the costs will be even higher for consumers, with the need to build transmission lines, infrastructure for the arrival of gas to supply the plants and imports of fuel.
Privatization is being analyzed by the Federal Audit Court (TCU), the last stage of the process. The topic should return to the agenda of the court of accounts on May 11.
The Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, has already stated that he believes that the company’s share offering to the market may take place until July this year.
The EPE outlined different scenarios. In the most conservative, called “Free Round”, formulated from decisions taken from mathematical models, based on the lowest prices, the PDE foresees a cost of R$ 93 billion.
In what includes the determinations of law 14.182/2021, with the new thermal plants, the value rises to R$ 145 billion, still without the costs of building the plants.
Former president of Eletrobras, Altino Ventura Filho was technical director of Itaipu Binacional and secretary of Energy Planning and Development at the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
He criticizes the contracting of the planned eight thousand megawatts of these thermal plants. In addition to the costs, he highlights the environmental commitments assumed by Brazil at COP-26 in Glasgow.
“The plants in the North and Northeast will be installed in areas where there is no demand, they are regions that export energy to the Southeast. In addition, they foresee gas plants in places where there is no natural gas. They will need to be supplied with the construction of pipelines or by imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), adding an exchange rate cost. It’s a complete de-optimization of energy planning and I don’t believe it will prosper”, evaluates Ventura Filho.
Former president of the Electric Energy Commercialization Chamber (CCEE) and former director of the National Electric System Operator (ONS), Luiz Eduardo Barata corroborates the criticisms and understands that the document released by the EPE is an important warning.
“We cannot build plants in places where there is neither gas nor cargo. It was a huge mistake, which only adds to the cost increase. There is no way to reduce the price of energy if the options are always for more expensive sources. I hope these auctions do not take place. We need to remember that, in October last year, we already contracted another R$ 40 billion in thermal generation that should start operating in the first half of 2023”, says Barata.
Although the National Congress is the target of criticism because of the measure, the former president of Eletrobras understands that the Legislature acted with good intentions in relation to the issue.
“They wanted to guarantee the supply and supply of electricity. Although they have a good performance in the area, especially through the Energy Commission, they do not have the appropriate instruments to analyze the segment in the best way. A plant of this type is a long-term investment, at least 25 years. In addition to price issues, we cannot reach 2050 by burning fossil fuel to generate energy”, concludes Ventura Filho.
Source: CNN Brasil
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