Illustration depicting Brazil–Venezuela electricity integration. Photo: Finimize.
The National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) of Brazil authorized the electricity supplier company Bolt Energy to import electricty from Venezuela to supply the Amazonian state of Roraima, the only state of Brazil that is not connected to the national electrical grid.
Bolt Energy, which requested authorization from ANEEL, stated that the electricity supply from Venezuela is guaranteed after the technical problems that forced Brazil to suspend imports in 2019 have been solved.
During 2001-2019, the majority of Roraima state’s energy demand was covered with electricity supplied from the Venezuelan hydroelectric plant of Guri through a 230 KW international connection line that extends 195 kilometers between Santa Elena de Uairén (Venezuela) and Boa Vista, the capital of Roraima.
Since March 7, 2019, when imports were suspended, Roraima has been supplied with electricity produced by diesel thermoelectric power plants. This diesel energy is more expensive, and its production is more harmful to the environment.
The resumption of the imports was approved by the overseer of the process at ANEEL, Ludimila Lima da Silva, and was endorsed on Tuesday, February 18, by the other members of the regulatory body.
Initially, ANEEL approved the import of up to 15 MW through the existing line, at an estimated cost of 1,096 reais (about US $193) per megawatt/hour, between January and April of this year.
According to ANEEL, the purpose of the authorization is to reduce costs and diversify the state’s electricity supply so as not to depend exclusively on thermal power plants.
The Brazilian National Electric System Operator reported that imports were resumed last Saturday on a trial basis but had to be suspended the following day due to a problem in the transmission system that caused a blackout in Roraima.
The agency added that the trial was resumed this week without problems.
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SC/SL
