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The federal authorization allows SPE Jandaia 1 to develop five thermal power units in Caucaia, Ceará, with a total capacity of 1,199.368 MW, an estimated investment of R$ 5.85 billion (about US$1.1 billion), and commercial operation expected in August 2031. Cover image: Industrial and energy complex of Pecém, in Caucaia, Ceará. Credit: Disclosure/Government of Ceará. The ordinance […]
The federal authorization allows SPE Jandaia 1 to develop five thermal power units in Caucaia, Ceará, with a total capacity of 1,199.368 MW, an estimated investment of R$ 5.85 billion (about US$1.1 billion), and commercial operation expected in August 2031.
The ordinance from the National Secretariat of Energy Transition and Planning was signed on September 11 and published in the Federal Official Gazette this Tuesday.
The act grants SPE Jandaia 1 S.A. authorization to operate as an independent energy producer for a period of 35 years.
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Five units form the authorized plant in Caucaia
The project includes four generating units of 298.980 MW each and an additional unit of 3.450 MW, all powered by natural gas.
Together, they reach an installed capacity of 1,199.368 MW. This figure represents the nominal capacity of the venture, not the power continuously delivered to the system.
The defined physical guarantee for the power plant is 21 MW average, a parameter used in commercialization and electricity sector planning.
Estimated investment reaches R$ 5.85 billion (about US$1.1 billion)
The documentation qualifies under the Special Regime of Incentives for Infrastructure Development for taxable goods and services estimated at R$ 5,854,138,170 (about US$1.1 billion).
This amount represents the base anticipated for the PIS and Cofins benefits. It does not mean that the entire amount has already been disbursed.
Moreover, the ordinance does not specify employment projections for construction or operation. Any number of job openings will depend on subsequent communication from the company.
Connection will feature a 500 kV line to Pecém II
The restricted-use network includes a 23.1/500 kV boosting substation and a 500 kV transmission line.
The stretch will be approximately 5.6 kilometers long and will connect the plant to the Pecém II substation, which is expected to integrate production into the electrical system.
This connection is part of the authorized project, but the actual entry of energy still depends on the execution of the works and the corresponding regulatory stages.
Installation permit appears as the first milestone in 2029
The official schedule sets January 9, 2029 as the deadline for obtaining the environmental installation license for the venture.
Subsequently, the start of civil works is expected on September 19, 2029. The dates serve as regulatory commitments linked to the authorization.
Residents near the complex will need to follow the environmental processes, as they detail impacts, conditions, and measures required before implementation.
Operation of the units is scheduled to begin in August 2031
The five units are expected to commence commercial operation on August 1, 2031, according to the approved timeline.
The authorization does not equate to a plant that is already built. Until then, licensing, construction, connection, and testing must progress within established deadlines.
Therefore, 2031 should be read as the project’s objective. Confirmation will come with the completion of each milestone tracked by the relevant authorities.
Natural gas will be the fuel for the new venture
The Jandaia 1 thermoelectric plant has been authorized to use natural gas. The document does not detail the supplier, supply route, or contracted volume.
This information will be essential for assessing operational costs and supply reliability, but should not be presumed based on its location in Pecém.
In the electrical system, thermoelectric plants can complement other sources when activated, according to commercial rules, operational conditions, and dispatch decisions.
35-Year Authorization Brings Responsibilities Beyond the Schedule
The 35-year term provides legal certainty for the independent producer. It does not eliminate permits, oversight, or technical obligations related to the project.
The company will need to keep project data updated and comply with rules regarding grid access, safety, environmental protection, and commercialization.
If there is a significant change in capacity, connection, or schedule, new public acts may document the alteration and allow for comparison with the original plan.
Caucaia Will See a Large Project Advance in Phases
For the local economy, the confirmed fact is the federal authorization. Construction contracts, suppliers, and hiring have not yet been disclosed in the act.
The separation between authorization and construction helps to avoid immediate expectations that the tight schedule, focused between 2029 and 2031, cannot sustain.
Public monitoring can begin with the installation license and continue with the construction site, connection, and testing of the five units.
Official Gazette Establishes the Numbers That Can Be Charged
Portaria SNTEP/MME No. 3,190 consolidates capacity, physical guarantee, connection, and deadlines that define the approved project.
These elements allow verification over the coming years to see if the execution preserves the announced scale and adheres to the authorized schedule.
Until the start of operations, the most concrete information will be the progress of each obligation, accompanied by environmental documents and electrical system acts.
Which phase of the Caucaia power plant do you want to follow more closely: licensing, construction, connection, or operational start?
