Itaipu Dam breaks 100 million MWh energy production mark

The Itaipu Dam is the world's first hydroelectric plant to generate 100 million megawatts-hour (MWh) in less than a year, according to the Brazilian-Paraguayan company. The mark was reached Tuesday (Dec. 20) at 11:16 p.m. The volume of energy generated from January up to now is 33% above the 75 million MWh per annum estimated in the Itaipu Treaty.

The 100 million MWh produced by the dam would be enough to serve the Brazilian electricity market for two months and 16 days, or Paraguay's for seven years and 17 days.

On Saturday (Dec. 17), Itaipu had already broken the world record for electric energy generation by surpassing the 98.8 million MWh threshold set in 2014 by China's Three Gorges Dam. The performance brings the binational company back to the top in the sector.

According to the company, a combination of factors contributed to the result: the steady flow of the Paraná River, Brazil's and Paraguay's high demand, the optimization of the use of natural resources and the high-performance technology.

According to Itaipu Executive Technical Director Airton Dipp, the dam should close out the year with a production of over 102 million MWh. “To repeat this achievement is possible, but exceeding the 102 million MHh is extremely difficult, as we have our 14 thousand megawatt installed power poses a limit,” he said. “Of course there are water-related conditions, which were favorable in 2016, and also Brazil's and Paraguay's high demand. This has been an exceptional year and would not very likely repeat itself.”

History

Since the dam started generating electricity in May 1984, Itaipu has generated 2.4 billion MWh, the world's highest cumulative production. This energy could supply the consumption of the entire planet for 40 days.

Itaipu Dam accounts for 18% of all electricity consumed in Brazil and for 82% of Paraguay's electricity consumption. The dam creates 2,700 direct jobs—1,400 in Paraguay and 1,300 in Brazil. To build it, it took $27 billion, collected by national and international bodies, including financial rollovers. Currently, its debt stands at $10 billion. Approximately 60% of its annual costs are set to pay the debt. The total debt will be cleared in the first quarter of 2023, according to the company.

The dam was constructed after a lengthy process of negotiations between Brazil and Paraguay that began in the 1960s. On April 26, 1973, they signed the Itaipu Treaty, the legal instrument for the hydroelectric exploitation of the Paraná River. In May, 1974, the Itaipu Binational company was created to build and administer the dam.

Translated by Amarilis Anchieta/Fabrício Ferreira