Even Without Generating Power, Mining Company Vale Has Already Received Over R$ 500 Million for Submerged Power Plant in MG

Written by Roberta Souza

Published on 12/04/2021 at 14:32

Updated on 12/04/2021 at 14:33

Logo da mineradora Vale – Fonte: REUTERS / Washington Alves

Seja o primeiro a reagir!

Vale Mining Company Has Been Receiving Millions Since 2015 for Energy Generation From a Plant That Has Not Operated Since the Tragedy in MG

Vale Mining Company, which had a hydroelectric plant whose operations were halted after the Mariana tragedy (MG), continues to collect money for energy generation as if it were operational. In over 5 years, the company has received more than 500 million reais. By a decision of the Federal Court, the plant was kept in the “energy redistribution mechanism,” a distribution system in the electricity sector aimed at mitigating losses during droughts.

Vale’s Plant

The Risoleta Neves hydroelectric plant belongs to the Candonga consortium, with Vale Mining Company holding 77.5% and Cemig 22.5%. The mining company’s hydroelectric plant ceased operations in November 2015, when one of the world’s largest environmental tragedies occurred.

The tragedy released thousands of tons of iron ore waste into the river known as “Rio Doce.” The sludge passed through 40 cities before reaching the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of Espírito Santo.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Cancellation of Payment to Vale

The case was taken to court and Aneel – National Electric Energy Agency tried to prevent the payment to Vale Mining Company. Since the tragedy, even though the plant did not produce energy, the company has received more than R$ 500 million, as if it were still operating today.

The total shutdown of the mining company’s hydroelectric plant led Aneel to naturally request the suspension of payments to the Risoleta Neves plant for its inability to generate further energy. However, Vale not only appealed against the agency’s administrative procedures but also appealed and obtained a decision that still maintains the payments to the Candonga consortium.

The agency shows that in fact, all plants pay monthly to the Risoleta Neves plant and gradually pass the cost onto energy consumers in Brazil in their electricity bills. Aneel data shows that this situation has resulted in direct losses of more than 100 million reais for consumers.

“Old” Case of the Mining Company

In October of last year, the President of the STJ, rapporteur and minister, Humberto Martins, rejected Aneel’s appeal, upheld the payment requested by Vale, and maintained the so-called Energy Reallocation Mechanism (MRE). This system was created to reduce the financial impact caused by the risk of drought in the country, allowing other plants with limited water available for electricity generation to be compensated by other plants in better conditions. Therefore, the situation is not about the Risoleta Neves hydroelectric relationship, which was engulfed by Samarco’s sludge.

Aneel has appealed Minister Humberto Martins’ decision, and the case will now be reviewed by the Special Court of the STJ, composed of the 15 oldest ministers. The first to vote is the rapporteur of the case, who will analyze the agency’s arguments against his previous decision. Following that, the other ministers will indicate whether they agree with the rapporteur’s vote. The agency, represented by the Attorney General’s Office, requested that the case be removed from the virtual agenda, where discussion is not necessary during the judgment. The fear is that a decision may be made without any discussion on the matter.

Even Without Generating Power, Mining Company Vale Has Already Received Over R$ 500 Million for Submerged Power Plant in MG

Vale Mining Company Has Been Receiving Millions Since 2015 for Energy Generation From a Plant That Has Not Operated Since the Tragedy in MG

Vale’s Plant

Cancellation of Payment to Vale

“Old” Case of the Mining Company

Seen from space, an image taken by an astronaut shows an unlikely oasis in the Saudi Arabian desert, protected by a terrain that slows the advance of sand, surrounded by green circles, remnants of an extinct lake and nearly 10,000 years of preserved history.

The oldest tree in the world, alive since before the birth of Jesus Christ, is cut down in a scientific study and the case changes environmental preservation rules.

An entire island in the Pacific wants to surround itself with a colossal barrier against the ocean to try to escape increasingly violent waves and not be swallowed by the sea in the coming decades.

The Blood Falls of Antarctica hide a living ecosystem trapped under the ice for over 2 million years, where microbes survive without light, without oxygen, and without ever having seen the Sun.

Peru built a tunnel at an altitude of 4,738 meters cutting through the Andes Mountains, and the road leading to it reaches 4,818 meters, making it the highest paved road in the entire world.

In the Saudi Arabian desert, the world’s largest green hydrogen plant is 80% complete and will use 4 gigawatts of solar and wind energy to produce 600 tons of clean fuel per day when it opens in 2027.

The CEO of Honor in Spain says that smartphones will change with AI, foldables, and even robot phones; the component crisis is making cheap models more expensive in 2026 and shifting the focus to premium.

What once seemed like fiction is beginning to become doctrine: the soldier of the future is being equipped as a walking technological platform, with body sensors, augmented reality, and total integration into digital combat.

The Earth only had supermountains twice in 4.5 billion years, and during both times, life took a giant leap: first, visible organisms emerged, and then came the animals with skeletons during the Cambrian explosion.

The world has been generating 80% of electricity by boiling water for 200 years, but China has just turned on a machine that replaces steam with supercritical CO2 and promises to jump from 33% to 50% efficiency.

At a depth of 914 meters, a team accidentally discovers a pirate ship with cannons, a telescope, and objects from three continents on the seabed, uncovering a mystery that has haunted Europe for centuries.

Brazilian producers are leaving Roraima to plant in Guyana, where the government offers land on concession and does not charge taxes, while in Brazil the harvest faces high interest rates and a bureaucracy that hinders even the use of the rivers.

Even Without Generating Power, Mining Company Vale Has Already Received Over R$ 500 Million for Submerged Power Plant in MG

Vale Mining Company Has Been Receiving Millions Since 2015 for Energy Generation From a Plant That Has Not Operated Since the Tragedy in MG

Vale’s Plant

Cancellation of Payment to Vale

“Old” Case of the Mining Company

Seen from space, an image taken by an astronaut shows an unlikely oasis in the Saudi Arabian desert, protected by a terrain that slows the advance of sand, surrounded by green circles, remnants of an extinct lake and nearly 10,000 years of preserved history.

The oldest tree in the world, alive since before the birth of Jesus Christ, is cut down in a scientific study and the case changes environmental preservation rules.

An entire island in the Pacific wants to surround itself with a colossal barrier against the ocean to try to escape increasingly violent waves and not be swallowed by the sea in the coming decades.

The Blood Falls of Antarctica hide a living ecosystem trapped under the ice for over 2 million years, where microbes survive without light, without oxygen, and without ever having seen the Sun.

Peru built a tunnel at an altitude of 4,738 meters cutting through the Andes Mountains, and the road leading to it reaches 4,818 meters, making it the highest paved road in the entire world.

In the Saudi Arabian desert, the world’s largest green hydrogen plant is 80% complete and will use 4 gigawatts of solar and wind energy to produce 600 tons of clean fuel per day when it opens in 2027.

The CEO of Honor in Spain says that smartphones will change with AI, foldables, and even robot phones; the component crisis is making cheap models more expensive in 2026 and shifting the focus to premium.

A Brazilian municipality relies on 97% federal money, has 14 secretariats, 11 councilors, and a budget of R$ 131 million, but only 915 people are formally employed, and no one knows how the other 25,000 live.

Argentina steps on the accelerator to become a power with a $20 billion agreement, immediate release of $1 billion, reserves above $5.5 billion, and a decrease in poverty to 28.2%.

Hong Kong leads the ranking of the most expensive fuel in the world and is suffering from a global crisis.

Giant refrigerator arrives in Ceará with a new factory to slaughter 1,000 cattle per day and promises to shake up the livestock industry in the state.

The delivery person made the first route on Shopee with 114 packages and 63 stops over 23 km: they traveled a short distance but took 7 hours to deliver everything and still don’t know for sure how much they will receive.

What once seemed like fiction is beginning to become doctrine: the soldier of the future is being equipped as a walking technological platform, with body sensors, augmented reality, and total integration into digital combat.

The Earth only had supermountains twice in 4.5 billion years, and during both times, life took a giant leap: first, visible organisms emerged, and then came the animals with skeletons during the Cambrian explosion.

The world has been generating 80% of electricity by boiling water for 200 years, but China has just turned on a machine that replaces steam with supercritical CO2 and promises to jump from 33% to 50% efficiency.

At a depth of 914 meters, a team accidentally discovers a pirate ship with cannons, a telescope, and objects from three continents on the seabed, uncovering a mystery that has haunted Europe for centuries.

Brazilian producers are leaving Roraima to plant in Guyana, where the government offers land on concession and does not charge taxes, while in Brazil the harvest faces high interest rates and a bureaucracy that hinders even the use of the rivers.