In the early hours of Sunday, March 10, the Itaipu hydroelectric plant reached an unprecedented milestone, generating a cumulative total of 3 billion megawatt-hours (MWh) since its inception in May 1984.
The achievement was officially confirmed on Monday morning, March 11th, at approximately 7am, when the volume of energy produced by the plant surged past 3,000,228,145 MWh. The Brazilian General Director of Itaipu, Enio Verri, expressed jubilation, emphasizing the collective effort behind the accomplishment. Verri commended every individual associated with Itaipu, including employees, contractors, and collaborators, for their invaluable contributions over the years.
Renato Sacramento, the Executive Technical Director, underscored the significance of this milestone, asserting that Itaipu's achievement solidifies its position as a world leader in energy production. Sacramento attributed this success to the unwavering dedication and expertise of both Brazilian and Paraguayan personnel, emphasizing their pivotal role in driving the binational entity forward.
The magnitude of Itaipu's accomplishment becomes apparent when compared to various benchmarks. The 3 billion MWh generated since its inception could power Brazil for nearly six years, Paraguay for over two centuries, the state of São Paulo for more than two decades, or sustain over 660 cities the size of Curitiba for a year. Furthermore, it could provide energy for over 5000 cities equivalent in size to Foz do Iguaçu for the same duration.
Itaipu's energy production has evolved significantly since its operational commencement on May 5, 1984. It took 17 years to reach the first billion MWh milestone in June 2001, amid Brazil's energy rationing crisis. Subsequently, Itaipu achieved the second billion MWh milestone after 11 years and 2 months, and now, after an additional 11 years and 7 months, it has surpassed the 3 billion MWh mark.
Photo: Alexandre Marchetti/Itaipu Binacional
