The company
Energética Barra Grande S.A. (BAESA) was incorporated on May 14, 2001, the date on which it obtained the concession permit for the Barra Grande Hydroelectric Power Plant, an undertaking built in the Santa Catarina and Gaucho hills, on the bed of the Pelotas River, between the municipalities of Anita Garibaldi (SC) and Pinhal da Serra (RS). BAESA is a company formed by a consortium of five investors, with the following shareholders: Alcoa Alumínio S/A, 42.2%; CPFL (Generation), 25%; Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio, 15%; InterCement, 9%, and DME Energética, 8.8%.
The Barra Grande Hydroelectric Power Plant went on-stream on November 1, 2005, when its first generating unit was activated. In February 2006, the second unit started functioning and three months later, in May, the third and final unit went into operation. Maximum installed power is 708 megawatts, which is sufficient o supply almost 26% of the power demand of Santa Catarina, or 17% of all the power consumed in Rio Grande do Sul. Each generating unit has 236 megawatts of installed power.
On January 4, 2008, the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Natural Renewable Resources (Ibama) renewed the Barra Grande Hydropower Plant’s Operating License (OL) 447/2005 for a period of six years, thereby recognizing the good quality of the socio-environmental actions that BAESA had introduced.
Social Responsibility
Although the initial objective was to generate power, BAESA went further: from when it started being built the undertaking created jobs, income, opportunities, quality of life, motivation and prospects for a region that has a low Human Development Index (HDI) and for a population with various needs. Thanks to the introduction of countless socio-environmental projects, BAESA stands out as a fundamental undertaking for driving the economy and offering a solid base for the development of the region affected by the power plant.
In its search for sustainability and reliable energy over the long term, Alcoa believes that BAESA’s installation represents an important step for Brazil and the country’s industry. In addition to investments of around R$ 1.5 billion, the hydroplant has invested a further R$ 200 million in socio-environmental compensation actions and social responsibility projects.
Many of the actions undertaken by BAESA in the sustainability area are reported every year in its Sustainability Report.
