Bento Albuquerque, the MME minister, says that the use of thermoelectric plants does not mean “dirtying” the Brazilian energy matrix

In an interview given to the epbr website, Bento Albuquerque, Minister of the MME (Ministry of Mines and Energy), highlighted the importance of energy generated by thermoelectric plants. Bento says that the use of plants is necessary to maintain the country's energy security and that the expansion of thermal generation does not mean “dirtying” the country's energy matrix. Check out this news: MME foresees an investment of R$ 20 billion with a program that extends the use of coal-fired thermoelectric plants

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Use of thermoelectric plants brings security to Brazil's energy system

During the interview, the MME minister also said that thermoelectric plants are to be used and that means reserve capacity. Bento also argues that thermals are not used 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. The minister of the MME (Ministry of Mines and Energy) also said that when there is no wind, no sun, no water, you have to use thermoelectric plants to be safe. 

Last week, the MME minister participated in the 26th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26), which took place in Glasgow, Scotland. The event began on October 31, where the government of Brazil announced the objective of achieving a share of between 45% and 50% of renewable energies in the energy matrix in 2030.

Brazil will arrive in 2030 with half of its energy matrix from renewable sources, says MME minister 

On November 03, the MME minister also said that Brazil will reach 2030 with half of its energy matrix clean (use of renewable sources). The goal announced in documents released by the Ministry of the Environment dictates the scope for expanding renewable sources in the matrix. According to Bento Albuquerque, the country has expanded its energy matrix, such as the growth of solar and wind power generation.

Bento says that Brazil's electricity matrix is ​​the cleanest of the OECD countries, of the G-20 countries. The MME minister also adds that by using thermoelectric plants, it is part of the matrix that is already considered the cleanest in the world. “But thermoelectric energy, not only in Brazil, but in other parts of the world, is necessary to maintain the energy security of the system. So that's what was done, we didn't make our matrix dirty because of that, ”he says.

See also: States in the Southeast region enter the fray to host the new nuclear power plant, announced by the MME minister

During participation in the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26), in Scotland, the Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, announced that he is looking for a place to build a new nuclear power plant in the country. The MME minister emphasizes that the new projects in the sector will have the participation of the private sector.

The construction of the plant must be indicated in the 2031 Decennial Energy Plan (PDE), a document that serves as the basis for sector planning. With two power plants (Angra 1 and 2, in Angra dos Reis-RJ), the matrix currently accounts for less than 3% of all energy generated in the country. The government says it is studying where the new nuclear power plant will be built. “Already thinking ahead, we are working on the PDE 2031, to be presented at the beginning of next year, which, in addition to the completion of Angra 3, in 2026/2027, will also include the implementation of a new nuclear power plant in Brazil. For this, the MME, EPE and Cepel have already started complementary studies for the location of new nuclear sites in Brazil”, said the MME minister.