Brazilian plans for gas-fired generation

At the 2011 Electric Power Conference and Exhibition, Fernanado De Albuquerque, Plant Modernization Division Manager, Companhia Paranaense de Energia (Copel), located in Curitiba, Brazil, discussed Brazil’s outlook for natural gas fired projects. Up until the late 1900s, 95% of the nation’s power generation was hydro. In 2001 and 2002, Brazil suffered brownouts and was subject to power rationing. Shortly thereafter an emergency plan was put in place to construct 49 thermal power stations.

By December 2009, 15% of the country’s 106,333 MW was thermal, the rest hydro. By 2019, Brazil’s planned energy mix will be 12.2% natural gas, 7.4% coal, 3.5% nuclear, 12.7% hydro, 9.9% wood, 31.0% oil, 21.5% sugar cane and 3.7% other renewables. From 2010 to 2019, natural gas production and imports will increase from 100 million cubic meters per day to 167 Mm³/d.