Furnas opens power plant floodgates for the 1st time in 11 years to control the flood; watch video

Eletrobras Furnas announced on Friday (13) the opening of the spillway gates of five hydroelectric power plants located on the Grande River, which runs through the municipalities of Minas Gerais and São Paulo.

The measure was determined by the ONS (National Electric System Operator) due to the heavy rains that have occurred in recent days in the river basin.

It is the first time after 11 years that the floodgates have been opened jointly to control floods, according to the company.

Four plants had their spillways opened on Friday: Furnas, Mascarenhas de Moraes, Luiz Carlos Barreto de Carvalho and Marimbondo. The Porto Colombia hydroelectric plant has its spillway open since Monday (9).

In a note, the company stated that there will be an increase in the water level downstream (after the dam) of the respective plants. He also said that he called local authorities to adopt security measures.

“Eletrobras Furnas strictly complies with the determinations of regulatory bodies in the operation of hydroelectric projects under its concession”, stated the company.

“The levels of the reservoirs and the energy dispatched are programmed by the ONS, responsible for operating the set of Brazilian reservoirs in an integrated manner, with the aim of guaranteeing energy security”, he added.

In a hydroelectric plant, opening the spillway seeks to allow water to exit when reservoir levels exceed recommended limits. The structure helps to avoid flooding during periods of rain.

At the Furnas plant, the Furnas reservoir had a usable volume of 86.53% on Friday, the highest level of the five hydroelectric plants.