CURITIBA, Brazil 9/8/09 (PennWell) -- Brazilian utility Companhia Paranaense de Energia Eletrica (Copel) said the first construction phase of the 362-MW Maua hydropower plant on the Tibagi River is finished.
The first phase of construction called for diverting the river and building the dam, the company said. The $633 million plant is expected to begin commercial production in January 2011.
Copel and Eletrosul, a subsidiary of state-run Eletrobras, have formed a partnership to build the project.
In 2008, Copel began looking for partnerships to develop and operate several small hydropower projects in Brazil’s Parana State. (HydroWorld 10/17/08) Copel sought partnerships to build projects ranging from 1 MW to 30 MW each.
