Itaipu Hydroelectric
The Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant, the largest in operation in the world, is a binational enterprise jointly developed by Brazil and Paraguay in the Paraná River. The installed power of the Plant is 14,000 MW (megawatts), with 20 generating units of 700 MW each. The production record of the year 2000 - 93.4 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) - was responsible for the supply of 95% of the electric power consumed in Paraguay and 24% of the total demand in the Brazilian market.
The Itaipu Power Plant is the result of intensive negotiations between the two countries, that took place in the 60’s. On June 22nd 1966, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Juracy Magalhães and of Paraguay, Sapena Pastor, signed the "Act of Iguaçu", a joint statement that declared the intention to study the development of the hydraulic resources belonging in condominium to both countries, in the section of the Paraná River "from and including the Falls of the Sete Quedas down to the mouth of the Iguassu River". In February of the following year, the Brazilian - Paraguayan Joint Technical Commission was created to implement the "Act of Iguassu" in the portion relating to the study of the development of the Paraná River.
In 1970, the consortium formed by the firms IECO (of the United States of America) and ELC (of Italy) won the international tender for carrying out feasibility studies and preparing the design of the project. Work commenced in February of 1971. On April 26th of 1973, Brazil and Paraguay signed the Treaty of Itaipu, the legal instrument for hydroelectric development of the Paraná River by both countries. In May of 1974, the Itaipu Binational (IB) entity was created to manage the construction of the power plant. The effective commencement of the works occurred in January of the following year.
In its more than 30 years, Itaipu Binational collects, beyond the publication in the list of the seven wonders of the modern world, by the North American Association of Civil Engineers (Asce), in 1995, in the magazine "Popular Mechanics", of the United States, many prizes and mentions of recognition for its performance in areas as Social Communication, Environment, Human Resources, Social Responsibility and Technique.
Informations from Official Site ( www.itaipu.gov.br )
Brazilian Canoe Confederation
Copyright CBCa 2007