Drought affects power generation for Brazil and Paraguay
(14 Oct 2021) Itaipu, the gigantic hydroelectric dam straddling the Brazil-Paraguay border on the vast Parana river, is feeling the heat of Brazil's worst drought in nine decades by showing a steep decline in electricity production.
Often described as one of the world's seven modern wonders, Itaipu's river's banks, usually lush and green, have turned rocky and bare.
Hugo Zarate, the plant's superintendent, said power generation is down 15% compared to a year ago and 35% below its best year in almost 40 years.
"We do not expect the crisis of lack of water to be solved before 2022. We will start the year in a rather complicated situation," Zarate told the AP.
Aside from energy production, Zarate said, "it impacts navigation, it impacts fishing, and it impacts tourism."
Sights similar to that of the Itaipu banks can be observed across Brazil, especially in the southeast and center-west regions, where hydroelectric reservoirs have been drained by a decade of lower-than-usual rainfall.
In a country where about two-thirds of power comes from hydroelectric generation, drought is having serious repercussions.
Crops have withered, energy costs and food prices are soaring, and experts warn of possible electricity shortages toward the end of the year.
President Jair Bolsonaro last month said hydroelectric dam reservoirs were "at the limit of the limit," calling for Brazilians to turn off a lamp, take cold showers and stop using elevators when possible.
Lawmakers even discussed bringing back daylight saving time.
But Brazil's dry spell has rippled through the region. The Parana River which fuels the Itaipu plant is one of the main commercial waterways in South America, going through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.
It has reached its lowest level in nearly 80 years, affecting remote residents with higher electricity prices, but also fishermen, local tourism, and the transport of goods, with ships having to reduce their tonnage to keep navigating.
Reduced water levels are part of natural cycles. But experts have warned human activity is affecting global weather patterns, leading to more frequent extreme events such as severe droughts and floods.
A recent study showed that Brazil, the country with the most freshwater resources on the planet, had steadily lost 15% of its surface water since 1991. The researchers did not include data for 2021.
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