Committee decides to lower the use of thermoelectric power generation

GTCIT Magazine

The Monitoring Committee of the Electric Sector

(CMSE) decided on Monday (May 30, 2012), to

diminish the thermoelectric power generation in Brazil

as of next week. According to the Ministry of Mines

and Energy, Márcio Zimmermann, the thermoelectric

generation, which currently averages 4.000 megawatts

(MW), should now be reduced to 2.500 MW.

These plants are used in Brazil mainly to prevent

a power outage in the country in times of drought,

when the reservoirs of the dams are low. But the

ministry assured that the reservoir of the hydroelectric

plants are satisfactory, and that there will be no need

to resort to the thermoelectric resources.

According to the Minister Zimmermann, the

Southeast has an average of 90% of its reservoirs full,

which is an excellent level for this time of year. Even

the Northeast, whose reservoir levels are a little lower,

do not compromise system security.

“The system is operating perfectly within the

current conditions, which safely allows us to reduce

the generation of thermoelectric energy. This will give

us an economic surplus that can be used towards

system maintenance and in the implementation of

new quality programs for the energy sector”, he said.

He also explained that: “of course, this does not

mean that the committee will not be flexible as to

this decision in case the current conditions take an

unexpected turn.” They will be following the reduction

of the projection for the coming months and, if

necessary, the plans will be changed according to

the demands vis-a-vis the resources.

Available at: http://www.gtcit.com/publicaciond.php?PublicacionId=67700&lang=en. Retrieved on: 13 June 2012. Adapted.