19/03/2013
Despite floods, rains disappoint the electricity sector Autor: Valor Econômico
Despite floods observed in several regions, the country will end the season with summer rains rainfall level below that expected for the smooth operation of hydroelectric generation. The National System Operator (ONS) has revised down the forecast level of the plants' reservoirs subsystem Southeast / Midwest by the end of March, from 54.2% to 52%. In these two regions, which account for 70% of the water storage capacity of the country, it rained in March only 81% of the historical average - the weather ONS was 89% - which reduced the volume that entered the lakes of the plants in relation than estimated earlier this month.
Given the unfavorable scenario, there is no indication that the authorities of the electricity sector to determine the shutdown of power plants in the short term. They are currently generating 15,200 megawatts (MW), equivalent to one quarter of the system. Its continued operation can ensure that the country does not run the risk of rationing until 2014.
A meteorologist Patricia Wood, of Climatempo, said that despite the general feeling that the rains were abundant in February and March, the level was lower than the historical average for the period in the Southeast. Furthermore, rainfall in these two months were concentrated in the eastern part of this region, especially along the coast. So no more intensively irrigated watersheds.
This summer, which ends tomorrow, there was practically no weather phenomenon known as the "convergence zone of the South Atlantic", which creates an instability strip with continuous rain and concentrated on the reservoirs of hydroelectric plants. What happened was more hard hits and isolated.
According to the ONS, the prediction of natural energy tributary to the river basin Paranaíba, a major Southeast / Midwest was revised from 80% to 61% of the historical average in March. From December 2012 until March, have also been observed inflows significantly unfavorable in the Northeastern and Northern Brazil
