Misplaced Pages

#448551

45-680: The Jirau Dam is a rock-fill dam with an asphalt-concrete core, in the Madeira River in the state of Rondônia , Brazil. The dam's hydroelectric power stations have 50 turbines each 75 MW resulting total installed capacity of 3,750 MW. The power plant's first unit was commissioned in September 2013, the 16th in November 2014, 24th in February 2015, the 41st in December 2015, and the last in December 2016. Most of

90-637: A 365 km (227 mi) loop around the unnavigable section to Guajará-Mirim on the Mamoré River, but is not functional, limiting shipping from the Atlantic at Porto Velho. Today, it is also one of the Amazon basin 's most active waterways, and helps export close to four million tons of grains, which are loaded onto barges in Porto Velho , where both Cargill and Amaggi have loading facilities, and then shipped down

135-566: A deep and lasting bitterness due to this loss, and the Bolivian military continues to build and maintain an open ocean navy in Lake Titicaca , awaiting an eventual recovery of access to the sea. The Madeira river complex presents an opportunity for Bolivia because all of the hydroelectric dams would feature ship locks capable of raising and lowering oceangoing vessels. If the project is completed, "more than 4,000 km of waterways upstream from

180-524: A large amount of criticism over his handling of deforestation and illegal mining in Brazil. Indigenous people in particular suffered encroachment on a large scale by illegal miners. In 2019 a dispute between IBAMA and Bolsonaro over a government contract for rental vehicles led to the resignation of Suely de Araujo, the President of IBAMA at the time. Bolsonaro claimed the agency had irregularities in its budget. This

225-471: A large reservoir. Both dams also feature significant environmental re-mediation efforts. As a consequence, there has not been strong environmental opposition to the implementation of the Madeira river complex. However, critics point out that if the fish ladders fail, "several valuable migratory fish species could suffer near-extinction as a result of the Madeira dams." Jirau's environmentally friendly design earned

270-505: A letter protesting the working conditions in 2021 under pressure to reduce the backlog and facing penalties if they failed to do so. On March 3, 2022, IBAMA announced the Terra Brasilis Operation. It is a program aimed at assessing biodiversity in Brazil and its use. IBAMA hopes prevent illegal use through fines and embargoes. Among IBAMA's diverse environmental and natural resources activities, it manages The Working Group for

315-496: A subspecies of the Amazon river dolphin or a separate species, is restricted to the upper Madeira River system. It has been estimated that there are more than 900 fish species in the Madeira River Basin, making it one of the freshwater systems in the world with the highest species richness . The river is the fifth title of the 1993/1999 Philip Glass album Aguas da Amazonia . In July 2007, plans have been approved by

360-464: A very thorough approval process to ensure that each project meets environmental, social, political, and safety criteria. However, critics of the Jirau and Santo Antonio dam claim that many legal criteria were rubber-stamped before all questions from impacted groups had been addressed. The dam's social impacts received the majority of substantive criticism (see below). However, environmental groups noted that

405-542: Is Ilha Tupinambaranas , an extensive marshy region formed by the Madeira's distributaries. The Madeira river rises more than 15 m (50 ft) during the rainy season , and ocean vessels may ascend it to the Falls of San Antonio, near Porto Velho , Brazil, 1,070 km (660 mi) above its mouth; but in the dry months, from June to November, it is only navigable for the same distance for craft drawing about 2 meters (7 ft) of water. The Madeira-Mamoré Railroad runs in

450-463: Is arched, 63 m (207 ft) tall and has an asphalt -core. Its structural volume is 2,000,000 m (70,629,333 cu ft) of which 17,000 m (600,349 cu ft) is asphalt. The dam's spillway consists of 21 gates and has a maximum discharge of 82,000 m/s (2,895,803 cu ft/s). The run-of-the-river dam's power station contain 50 x 75 MW bulb turbines for a total installed capacity of 3,750 MW. The reservoir created by

495-669: Is part of the Initiative for the Integration of the Regional Infrastructure of South America , an effort by South American governments to integrate the continent's infrastructure with new investments in transportation, energy, and communication. Construction on the project was temporary halted in March 2011, February 2012 and April 2013 due to worker riots or strikes. The Brazilian Development Bank approved an additional US$ 1.6 billion for

SECTION 10

#1732851743449

540-445: Is that the dam builders failed to adequately consult with indigenous peoples, as required by law. The Brazilian government indigenous protection foundation FUNAI predicts that there may be un-contacted indigenous populations in the region that will be affected by the Madeira complex. Most of the affected populations are nearest to the Jirau dam. The threat to uncontacted Indians has motivated both internal and external criticism of ESBR,

585-591: Is the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment 's administrative arm.  IBAMA was created in 1988 by President José Sarney. IBAMA supports anti-deforestation of the Amazon, and implements laws against deforestation where the government ceases to implement. IBAMA engages in armed enforcement, using tactical personnel to keep the forest from loggers, farming, agricultural farm grazing and anything that would threaten

630-616: The Itonamas or San Miguel , the Mamoré , Beni , and Madre de Dios or Mayutata , all of which are reinforced by numerous secondary but powerful affluents. The climate of the upper catchment area varies from humid in the western edge with the origin of the river's main stem by volume (Río Madre de Dios, Río Beni) to semi arid in the southernmost part with the Andine headwaters of the main stem by length ( Río Caine , Río Rocha , Río Grande , Mamoré). All of

675-493: The 2019-2022 period along with embargoed areas increasing by 111%. Despite this, there have been deadly incidents between IBAMA's tactical field personnel and illegal violators. Brazil's current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva made ambitious pledges on deforestation. One notable pledge was to end illegal deforestation by 2030. IBAMA is central to these plans as it often acts as an enforcement agency against illegal deforestation in Brazil. IBAMA often surveys and protects land in

720-462: The Amazon from illegal mining and logging. Brazil underwent a 50% reduction in deforestation in 2023 signaling progress towards these plans. With Brazil's environment Minister Marina Silva crediting IBAMA’s efforts. However, over 1,500 workers within Brazil's federal anti-deforestation agencies IBAMA and ICMbio demanded better pay and working conditions from President Lula in a letter in December 2023. Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former President, endured

765-411: The Amazon. The current President of IBAMA is Rodrigo Agostinho. IBAMA has increased its use of remote surveillance since 2023. IBAMA identifies areas of deforestation and assesses who owns the affected areas. IBAMA then implements embargoes and fines on the owner of the land. Embargoes can also include cattle seizures to dissuade future offenders. The value of agency fines increased by 167% in 2023 from

810-698: The Brazilian Government to construct two hydroelectric dams on the Madeira River, the Santo Antônio Dam near Porto Velho and the Jirau Dam about 100 km upstream. Both the Jirau and Santo Antonio dams are run-of-the-river projects that do not impound a large reservoir. Both dams also feature some environmental re-mediation efforts (such as fish ladders). As a consequence, it has been suggested that there has not been strong environmental opposition to

855-627: The Madeira to the ports of Itacoatiara , near the mouth of the Madeira, just upstream on the left bank of the Amazon, or further down the Amazon, to the port of Santarem , at the mouth of the Tapajos River. From these two ports, Panamax -type ships then export the grains - mainly soy and corn - to Europe and Asia. The Madeira waterway is also used to take fuel from the REMAN refinery ( Petrobras ) in Manaus , state capital of Amazonas , to Porto Velho , from where

900-528: The company responsible for the dam, the Brazilian Institute of Environment (IBAMA) and the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) for the non-accomplishment of some of the conditions previewed by the environmental license and for the indemnification for losses on the traditional fishers' revenues. Because both the Jirau and Santo Antonio dams are run-of-the-river projects, neither dam impounds

945-399: The contractor responsible for building the Jirau dam. A coalition of non-governmental organizations called for dam construction to be halted, and questions were raised during annual meeting of GDF Suez. After more than 10 years in operation, no one single Indian tribe was found in the region impacted by Jirau dam. Moreover, federal prosecutors are suing ESBR ( Energia Sustentável do Brasil ),

SECTION 20

#1732851743449

990-535: The dam has a surface area of 258 km (100 sq mi) of which 135 km (52 sq mi) is the original riverbed. Bulb turbines are a variation of the Kaplan turbine, with the main differences being that bulb turbines are installed horizontally and are generally considered to be slightly more efficient. The power plant is constructed by Energias Sustentáveis do Brasil and Brazilian company Camargo Correa SA. Brazilian law requires water impoundments to undergo

1035-558: The dams in Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru would become navigable." Hence, if the project is completed, both Bolivian commercial vessels and the Bolivian navy would have access to the open ocean, and lucrative sea lanes, for the first time in 120 years. The body of the Brazilian environmental activist Nilce de Souza Magalhães, also known as Nicinha, was found on 21 June 2016 in the hydro-power dam's lake of Jirau. Nicinha, leadership of MAB in Rondônia

1080-517: The discharge of the Congo River . On the further course towards the Amazon, the mean discharge of the Madeira increases up to 31,200 m /s (1,100,000 cu ft/s). Between Guajará-Mirim and the falls of Teotônio, the Madeira receives the drainage of the north-eastern slopes of the Andes from Santa Cruz de la Sierra to Cuzco , the whole of the south-western slope of Brazilian Mato Grosso and

1125-597: The fast track approval for the Madeira dams sets a dangerous precedent. Brazilian law allows for expedited licensing for eco-friendly projects described by the Worldwatch institute as "kindler, gentler dams with smaller reservoirs, designed to lessen social and environmental impacts." The Worldwatch Institute insists that no project should "fast-track the licensing of new dams in Amazonia and allow projects to circumvent Brazil's tough environmental laws". The most frequent objection

1170-505: The great basins vary from 75 to 300 cm (2.5–9.8 ft), the entire upper Madeira basin receiving 170.5 cm (5.6 ft). The greatest extremes of rainfall are between 49 and 700 cm (1.6–23 ft). Even just below the confluence that forms it, the Madeira is one of the largest rivers by discharge of the world, with a mean inter-annual discharge of 18,000 cubic metres per second (640,000 cu ft/s), i.e., 568 km (136 cu mi) per year, approximately half

1215-530: The implementation of the Madeira river complex. Yet, if the fish ladders fail, "several valuable migratory fish species could suffer near-extinction as a result of the Madeira dams." There are also concerns with deforestation and pressure on conservation areas and indigenous peoples' territories. The Worldwatch institute has also criticized the fast-track approval process for "kindler, gentler dams with smaller reservoirs, designed to lessen social and environmental impacts", claiming that no project should "fast-track

1260-595: The impounded reservoir and the downstream river. If the project is completed, "more than 4,000 km [2,500 mi] of waterways upstream from the dams in Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru would become navigable." As typical of Amazonian rivers with the primary headwaters in the Andes, the Madeira River is turbid because of high sediment levels and it is whitewater , but some of its tributaries are clearwater (e.g., Aripuanã and Ji-Paraná ) or blackwater (e.g., Manicoré ). The Bolivian river dolphin , variously considered

1305-467: The latter tributary the flow of river changes to north-eastward direction, inland of Rondônia state of Brazil. The section of the river from the border to Porto Velho has notable drop of bed and was not navigable. Before 2012 the falls of Teotônio and of San Antônio existed here, they had higher flow rate and bigger level drop than more famous Boyoma Falls in Africa. Currently these rapids are submerged by

1350-484: The licensing of new dams in Amazonia and allow projects to circumvent Brazil's tough environmental laws". Indigenous languages of the upper Madeira River basin (in Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru): Note : † = extinct language Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources The Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources ( Portuguese : Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis , IBAMA )

1395-546: The northern slope of the Chiquitos sierras. In total, this catchment area, which is slightly more than the combined area of all headwaters, is 850,000 km (330,000 sq mi), almost equal in size to France and Spain combined. The waters flow into the Madeira from many large rivers, the principal of which, (from east to west), are the Guaporé or Iténez , the Baures and Blanco ,

Jirau Dam - Misplaced Pages Continue

1440-521: The plant registration under the " Clean Development Mechanism " (CDM) program of the United Nations . Jirau is the largest renewable energy plant to earn the CDM, which is awarded to innovative projects that help to solve environmental problems such as climate change. Construction on the dam was halted on 18 March 2011 as workers rioted; setting fire to buses and destroying part of the worker housing. Wages and

1485-500: The power is designed to be exported to south-eastern Brazil via the Rio Madeira HVDC system . The dam is part of a planned four power plant Madeira river hydroelectric complex, which will consist of two dams in Brazil (3,580 MW Santo Antônio Dam at the city of Porto Velho and Jirau), a third on the border of Brazil and Bolivia, and a fourth station inside Bolivia. Two of these, Santo Antonio and Jirau, are already operating, while

1530-414: The project in September 2012. The extra funding will add six more 75 MW bulb turbine-generators to the power station (a total of 50) and pay for transmission lines. The Jirau Dam is a combination embankment dam with concrete sections for the power stations and spillway. The length of the entire dam is 1,100 m (3,609 ft) while the embankment section is 800 m (2,625 ft). The embankment dam

1575-413: The reservoir of Santo Antônio Dam . Below Porto Velho the Madeira meanders north-eastward through the Rondônia and Amazonas states of north west Brazil to its junction with the Amazon . The 283,117 hectares (2,800 km ; 1,100 sq mi) Rio Madeira Sustainable Development Reserve , created in 2006, extends along the north bank of the river opposite the town of Novo Aripuanã . At its mouth

1620-545: The rest of the country are concerned, to bring in part of its raw materials, and export its produce to the major consumer centres of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro . In 2012, the cargo amounted to 287,835 tons (both directions). The total tonnage shipped in 2012 on the Madeira accounted to 5,076,014. Two large dams (see below) are under construction as part of the IIRSA regional integration project. The dam projects include large ship-locks capable of moving oceangoing vessels between

1665-580: The serious impacts of predatory fishing activity on the Madeira River . The complaints generated two civil investigations being conducted by the Federal Prosecutor's Office and the State Prosecutor's Office on the non-implementation of the Program of Support to Fishing Activity and another of criminal character, because of data manipulation in monitoring reports. His killer, Edione Pessoa da Silva, who

1710-479: The smaller upstream dams are still in the planning stages. In part due to the 2001–2002 power shortage in Brazil, construction of both dams was accelerated in 2009. The total estimated cost of the two facilities currently under construction is $ 15.6 billion ($ 8 billion for Jirau), including about $ 10 billion for the civil engineering and power plants, and $ 5 billion for ship locks, transmission lines, and environmental re-mediation. The Madeira river hydroelectric complex

1755-450: The states of Acre , Rondônia and parts of Mato Grosso are supplied mainly with gasoline (petrol) refined in Manaus . Cargo barges also use the Madeira on the route between Manaus and Porto Velho, which is 1,225 km (760 mi) along the Rio Negro , Amazon and Madeira, connecting Manaus' industrial district with the rest of Brazil, as Manaus is land-locked as far as logistics with

1800-447: The treatment by security officials was attributed to the rioting. Additional security personal had to be sent to the site and construction was halted. Workers went on strike at Jirau and Santo Antonio in April 2013 after a salary increase proposal was rejected. Bolivia has been a landlocked country since it lost its coastline to Chile in the war of the pacific in 1884. Many Bolivians feel

1845-491: The upper branches of the river Madeira find their way to the falls across the open, almost level Mojos and Beni plains, 90,000 km (35,000 sq mi) of which are yearly flooded to an average depth of about one meter (3 ft) for a period of from three to four months. From its source in the confluence of Madre de Dios and Mamoré rivers and downstream to Abuna River the Madeira flows northward forming border between Bolivia and Brazil . Below its confluence with

Jirau Dam - Misplaced Pages Continue

1890-490: Was daughter of rubber extractors who came from the Brazilian state of Acre to the city of Abuna (near Porto Velho ) in Rondonia , where she lived almost fifty years and was evicted along with other fishers due to the construction of the dam. The encampment where they had lived had no access to clean water or electricity. Nicinha made several complaints over the years, attending public hearings and events, including, pointed out

1935-499: Was disputed by IBAMA officials. IBAMA also saw its funds slashed by 30% from 2019-2020 under Bolsonaro. Along with its employee numbers dropping by 55% from 1,311 to 591 between 2010 and 2019. Bolsonaro also implemented “Reconciliation hearings” in 2019. Individuals and companies could reduce or cancel fines based on the hearing. Seventeen thousand hearings were backed up as of 2021 with fines expiring if they had not been heard by three years. Nine hundred Ibama and ICMBio employees signed

1980-767: Was in prison after confessing to murder Nicinha, escaped from the State Penitentiary "Edvan Mariano Rosendo", located in Porto Velho (RO) in April 2016. Madeira River The River of Cuyari, called by the Portuguese Madeira or the Wood River, is formed by two great rivers, which join near its mouth. It was by this River, that the Nation of Topinambes passed into the River Amazon. The mean inter-annual precipitations on

2025-449: Was missing since 7 January 2016. Her body was found only 400 meters away from where she used to live. Her body was found by the workers of the dam, her hands and feet were tied by a rope and tied to a rock. She was known in the region for the struggle in defense of the affected populations, denouncing human rights violations committed by the consortium responsible for the Jirau power plant, called Energia Sustentável do Brasil (ESBR). Nicinha

#448551