Arayara NGO Requests Suspension of Karpowership’s Floating Thermoelectric Plants Project in Rio de Janeiro and Warns of Environmental Impacts

Arayara Points Out That The Floating Thermal Power Plants Project By Karpowership In Rio de Janeiro Is Underway And Requests Immediate Suspension, As The Project Will Bring Environmental Impacts Such As Deforestation And Damages To Fishing.

On last Thursday, (07/28), the Non-Governmental Organization Arayara requested the suspension of the floating thermal power plants installation project by Karpowership in the state of Rio de Janeiro from the environmental agencies (Ceca and Inea). The NGO warns of deforestation problems and impacts on regional fishing as the main environmental impacts of the company’s project, which is still ongoing despite a court order for suspension. 

Karpowership’s Floating Thermal Power Plants Project In RJ Is Ongoing And NGO Arayara Requests Suspension Due To Environmental Impacts

The licensing process for Karpowership to continue its floating thermal power plants installation project in the state of Rio de Janeiro is now facing another impasse, with the NGO Arayara requesting the inclusion of a suspension measure for the project in the licensing.

This is because the organization claims that, even after the decision of the Rio de Janeiro Court to suspend the installation process of the plants on July 22, the company continues to take steps to proceed with the project. 

The project in question by Karpowership plans to install not only four floating thermal power plants in the region but also a storage and regasification unit for LNG, in addition to 40 transmission towers to ensure the proper functioning of the energy complex in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

However, although it seems like a great opportunity for the growth of the energy sector in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Karpowership’s project will bring a series of irreversible environmental impacts to the Carioca region. 

Among them, Arayara highlights the deforestation of the coastal vegetation in the region, since the project has already destroyed mangroves and restinga in the Atlantic Forest, the most deforested biome in the entire national territory currently and the one that requires the most attention regarding preservation from the Federal Government.

Furthermore, the environmental impacts are also occurring in the marine environment, as the movement for the installation of floating thermal power plants in the region is driving away fish and harming the fishing activity, essential for a large part of the Carioca population. 

Rio de Janeiro Fishermen Have Already Taken A Stand Against The Project In The Region And The Environmental Impacts Of The Floating Thermal Power Plants May Worsen, Says Arayara

In addition to the request by NGO Arayara for the suspension of the energy company’s project in the state of Rio de Janeiro, a total of 160 fishermen from the São Francisco River Canal Fishermen’s Association positioned themselves in 60 boats to protest against the floating thermal power plants project by Karpowership. This is because the company’s vessels were blocking the fishermen’s free access, thus hindering the labor activity of the local residents. 

“In addition to strengthening a dirty energy matrix — which should be left in the past — the potential for atmospheric and marine pollution is enormous. In the case of the sea, the water used to cool the vessels’ engines will be returned at a temperature higher than the region, affecting sensitive organisms such as the Grey Dolphin, not to mention the chemicals used to descale the cooling systems,” the organization warned in a statement against Karpowership’s project. 

Now, the NGO is awaiting new developments for its request after the 17th Federal Court of Rio de Janeiro issued a notification for Inea to respond to the MPF’s inquiries on July 27, but has not yet received feedback regarding the measures taken to mitigate the environmental impacts of the company’s presence in the state.