EDF, through its affiliate EDF Norte Fluminense, has acquired a 51% participation in SINOP Energy Company (CES), in charge of constructing and operating the 400MW SINOP hydroelectric dam. This site will be based upstream of several hydroelectric structures on the Teles Pires river, in Northern Mato Grosso, Brazil, close to the city of Sinop. The two other stakeholders are EletroNorte (24.5%) and CHESF (24.5%), both holdings of Eletrobras. With this agreement, Norte Fluminense takes over the stakes initially owned by the Brazilian electricity player ALUPAR within CES.
The dam construction started in March 2014 and its commercial commissioning is planned for the second half of 2017. The environmental and social studies and associated management plans were approved by the Brazilian administration in March. With a 51% participation within the consortium, EDF will have an industrial role both in the construction and in the operations of the future dam. SINOP meets the Group’s social and environmental requirements and the project will enhance EDF’s expertise in both the hydroelectric field and innovation.