The Machadinho Hydroelectric Power Station is located on the Pelotas River, between Piratuba (SC) and Maximiliano de Almeida (RS). The building work, which started in March, 1998, was concluded within five years, during which time US$ 618 million were invested in the project. The hydroelectric power station has 1140 MW of installed capacity.



The idea for constructing the hydroelectric power station arose in the mid-1970s, but only in 1996, when Eletrosul Centrais Elétricas S.A. arranged a public tender to look for partners and to make conclusion of the undertaking feasible did the project take shape. In the same year the Empresas Associadas Machadinho Group (GEAM) Consortium, which today is called Machadinho Energética S.A. (MAESA), joined with Eletrosul and set up the Machadinho Consortium. MAESA has an 83.06% share in the business. The enterprise comprises the following companies: Alcoa, Votorantim Group, Valesul, CEEE, Camargo Corrêa Cimentos, Municipal Department of Electricity (DME) of Poços de Caldas, and Tractebel.

The consortium has countless programs aimed at minimizing socio-environmental interference. With measures, like monitoring the resettlement of the rural population, technical and social assistance for families, monitoring of the fauna and social communication it is possible to measure the results of the effectiveness of the actions and find out the profile of each family.

Alcoa has a 25.74% share in the Machadinho Hydroelectric Power Station Consortium. It also owns 42% of the Barrra Grande power station, which guarantees that the Company is some 40% self-sufficient in energy. This energy supplies the needs of the unit in Poços de Caldas and part of Alumar’s consumption, with the rest being bought from Eletronorte.