Fonte: ANEEL
 
The Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica -ANEEL) approved, through Dispatch nº 3,164, dated 11/29/2011, the Viability Studies for Hydropower Plant Sinop. Planned to be built on the Teles Pires River, in the state of Mato Grosso, the plant will have an installed power of 400 MW, with a physical guarantee of approximately 230 MWmed, of which, around 20 MWmed, are estimated indirect benefits in the plants located downstream from HPP Sinop, coming from the regularization provided by the reservoir. This benefit is only possible due to the capacity of drawdown of its reservoir in up to 10 meters – characteristic rarely possible in hydropower plants in Brazil currently.

The viability studies for HPP Sinop were analyzed by ANEEL in 2010 and were already apt for approval, just awaiting the conclusion of the environmental licensing by the State Environment Department of Mato Grosso– SEMA (Secretaria de Estado Meio Ambiente do Mato Grosso) and the publication of the Declaration of Reserver of Hydric Availability (Declaração de Reserva de Disponibilidade Hídrica – DRDH) by the National Water Agency– ANA (Agência Nacional de Águas). The DRDH was issued by ANA in October 2011, and the Preliminary License– LP only in August of this year. Still in August, ANA alter the series of flows of the mentioned DRDH, which demanded a new analysis of the studies before approval.

With the approval of these studies, this energy may be commercialized in the next new energy auction, which is expected to be held on 12/14/2012. The beginning of commercial operation of the first generation unit is forecast for 2017. (HP/PG)