“We don’t know if attacks on towers were politically motivated”, says energy minister

In an interview with journalists this Tuesday (17), the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira (PSD-MG), said that it is not possible to say that the attacks on electricity transmission towers were politically motivated.

“What we can say is that, due to the fact that several events converge, we understand, for good, to be proactive and anticipate possible more serious problems, using all the surveillance instruments that the State has”, he declared.

“Private initiative has also taken a very collaborative role in helping to ensure that advanced technologies are implemented very quickly to provide security for the country’s security networks.”

According to the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel), there are seven cases of attack against electricity transmission towers in three states. Among them, four towers were knocked down.

In all, Aneel counts three occurrences in Rondônia, two in Paraná and two in São Paulo.

On the night of Sunday (8) to Monday (9), three electricity transmission towers were knocked down in Paraná and Rondônia and, according to Aneel, with evidence of “sabotage” and “vandalism”. The cases took place hours after the criminal action that invaded the headquarters of the Three Powers in Brasília.

Aneel says it has kept the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) informed of all events, as well as interacting with public security authorities.

To the press, Silveira also added that the Federal Highway Police will have an “ostensive role” on the roads where the transmission lines pass and “may contribute to the surveillance of heritage”.

“The Federal Police, on the other hand, will preside over the investigations necessary for the investigation and rigorous punishment of those who attack the property of all Brazilians.”

*Posted by Tamara Nassif