Despite its large capacity to generate electricity internally, Brazil will start buying energy from neighboring South American countries, such as Argentina and Uruguay. According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), Petrobras and Eletrobras are authorized to import from 570 to 2100 megawatts from these two countries. The measure will be carried out, initially, until the end of 2015. The purchase of Argentine energy will be made weekly and will be destined for the National Integrated System and will be transferred by Petrobras.
How the importation of energy from Argentina works
The entire process is based on requests sent by the National Electric System Operator (ONS) and occurs differently from a standard commercial negotiation, as Brazil will not “buy” the energy from Argentina. In fact, electricity credit will be generated for our neighbors who will supply the electricity.
A similar action has already been taken previously, after a major blackout occurred on January 19, 2015, when 11 Brazilian states and the Federal District were left in the dark and the government was forced to import energy from the Argentines.
According to the text released by the MME itself, the measure occurs “in an exceptional and temporary manner,” always weekly. José Jhurosa Júnior, rapporteur of the matter at Aneel, also emphasizes that the agreement includes the contracting of the use of the transmission system and also the possibility of using the electricity transmission facilities that would be intended for interconnections between the countries. “This will enable emergency purchases or, in some cases, the purchase of cheaper energy,” concludes Jhurosa Júnior.
