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Eletrobrás (Brazilian Electric Holding, S.A.) informed that it signed a technical cooperation agreement this week with the China Yangtze Three Gorges Project Development Corporation, which is responsible for the construction and operation of the Three Gorges Hydroelectric Plant.
The partnership, which was sealed during a visit by Eletrobrás president Silas Rondeau to the site of the plant on the Yangtze River, in China, envisions an exchange of experiences with Itaipu hydroelectric plant.
Itaipu, the world's largest functioning hydroelectric plant, is a binational enterprise developed by Brazil and Paraguay. Itaipu's installed potential is 12,600 MW (megawatts), with 18 generators, each producing 700 MW.
Eletrobrás is one of the companies participating in the Expo Brazil China, an event being held in Beijing as part of the commemorations of the 30 years since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries.
According to the Eletrobrás press office, the purpose of the exposition is to open business opportunities in China to Brazilian entrepreneurs.
When it is concluded, the Three Gorges Plant, which is the largest hydroelectric project on Earth, will have an installed capacity of 22,500 megawatts (MW), nearly twice the potential of Itaipu.
Twelve generators are already in operation, producing 8,000 MW, and construction is in full swing.
The note also informs that the President of Eletrobrás, accompanied by the directors of the China Yangtze Three Gorges Project Development Corporation, visited the relocation projects that the Chinese government is implementing.
"Nearly a million people will be resettled through a social program that reorganizes the communities situated in areas affected by the Three Gorges dam.
The population of the region will receive assistance from projects in the area of housing, urbanization, health, education, and generation of employment and income," the note concludes.
This year the Bank of Brazil (BB) has already provided US$ 1.02 billion (3 billiion reais) in loans to seven hydroelectric power plant construction projects and is analyzing two more projects in the same area, according to the bank's press office.
The projects for which loans have already been contracted will make possible the generation of 6,173 gigawatt hours annually (GWH/year). In addition, they will create 14 thousand direct jobs during the construction phase.
The BB is also studying various other projects in the energy sector, such as plans authorized by the Incentive Program for Alternative Energy Sources (Proinfa) and ones geared to investments in power lines and modernization of the energy distribution system.
Agência Brasil
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