In 2023, Norte Energia continued to implement preventive and compensation measures in partnership with Ibama, aimed at improving access to water, sanitation, fish farming, cocoa planting and improvements in the health system. Actions were also taken to strengthen sustainable fishing, in response to the impacts on aquatic fauna and local fishing due to the creation of the reservoir.
The company maintained an active dialogue with local communities, seeking participatory solutions to minimize impacts and improve the region’s biodiversity.
Norte Energia has developed the Social Monitoring and Monitoring Project for Communities Surrounding the Works and Host Communities, as part of the Basic Environmental Project (PBA) of the Belo Monte HPP. Launched in 2013, the project monitors the socioeconomic conditions of communities affected by the plant every six months, using the Family Development Index (IDF) to identify social vulnerabilities.
The actions cover resettled people, riverside dwellers, fishermen and farmers in the municipalities of Altamira, Anapu, Brasil Novo and Senador José Porfírio, in Pará. The 24th report of 2024 showed stability or improvement in the indicators, highlighting the Collective Urban Resettlements (RUCs) with average IDF (Family Development Index) above 0.70. The results prove the socioeconomic conditions of families remained the same or improved in relation to the pre-plant period, with advances in housing and other areas.
Norte Energia also invested in licensing actions over the period 2010-2023, which cover several social sectors:
- Housing: Six Collective Urban Resettlements (RUC) were built in Altamira, housing 3,850 families. They have sanitation infrastructure, drinking water, electricity, a school and a health unit. In addition to a Collective Rural Resettlement (RRC) and a Resettlement in Remaining Area (RAR).
- Health: Investments were made in the construction and renovation of hospitals, such as the Altamira General Hospital, the Vitória do Xingu hospital and the Anapu hospital, and 31 Basic Health Units (UBS) in municipalities close to the Belo Monte HPP.
- Basic Sanitation: Around BRL 700 million were allocated to basic sanitation projects, which include water and sewage networks in several municipalities in the area directly influenced by the plant.
- Education: 78 school projects were carried out, benefiting more than 29 thousand students.
- Safety: Investments of BRL163 million have been applied to equip the local police since the start of construction on the Belo Monte hydroelectric power plant.
- Social Assistance: Support for social assistance actions, especially for 162 resettled and migrant families, which includes social and psychological services.
- Indigenous Component: BRL1.1 billion was invested in actions for indigenous peoples, such as the construction of schools, water supply systems and housing.
Concerning the Belo Monte Community (BMC) program, several actions were carried out with the communities surrounding the plant, covering nine thematic axes: citizenship, preventive health, environmental education, art and culture, education, sport, volunteering, digital inclusion and job and income generation.
In 2023, the highlight was the Social Soccer project, which expanded its activities to new communities, increasing the number of participants from 550 to 930 children and young people. Another advance was the Permear program, an initiative by Norte Energia in partnership with the Municipal Department of Education of Altamira, which trained 37 municipal teachers on indigenous histories and cultures, in accordance with law nº 11.645/2008. The project involved 112 hours of training, led by ten indigenous teachers from the Middle Xingu, potentially impacting more than 4,000 students in Altamira.
The Encantos do Xingu Project (Pexin) offered music and digital inclusion classes to riverside children in partnership with the Ararajuba Institute. Furthermore, the BMC promoted training courses. Examples include the Gourmet Flour production course for indigenous communities, and training in chocolate production (chocolatier course) with the cocoa production project. Other interested residents of the Médio Xingu region, in partnership with the Amazon Entrepreneurship Center (CEA) and the Cacauway Cooperative, and indigenous people from the Xipaya and Kuruaya ethnic groups provided cocoa from their plantations for chocolate production at the Chocolat Xingu 2023 festival.
The results of Belo Monte Community’s actions can be accessed through the company’s website (https://www.norteenergiasa.com.br/sustentabilidade/iniciativas/belo-monte-comunidade).
Regarding the environmental studies of the Belo Monte HPP, we identified potential impacts on populations and the environment along the Reduced Flow Stretch (TVR) and in Volta Grande do Xingu. To mitigate these effects, the Integrated Management Plan was implemented, with specific actions for the region, including initiatives aimed at indigenous communities.
Predicted negative impacts, such as social disorganization, are no longer observed, and there is significant reduction in social vulnerability. Norte Energia will continue to monitor and offer support to fishermen, riverside dwellers and resettled families.
In 2023, Norte Energia continued its actions to support the fishing and riverside sector in the area of influence of the Belo Monte HPP. In the fishing sector, actions were directed by the Sustainable Fishing Incentive Project and in accordance with the requirements of Operating License No. 131/2015. Ibama recommended financial compensation of BRL 20,000 for fishermen registered between 2017 and 2019, and analyses are underway for fishermen who are not registered but who can prove they were active before the creation of the reservoirs in 2016.
Services were provided in several cities, and discussions on sustainable fishing were resumed with ICMBio and Ibama.
As for the riverside dwellers, Norte Energia continued the resettlement of families affected by the Xingu reservoir, with social and psychological support. Resettlement includes both urban and rural areas, with 162 families relocated so far. The company also works with local departments to implement educational and health infrastructure in new communities.
In 2023, Norte Energia also carried out 177 environmental education actions, benefiting 3,609 people resettled in Altamira. In addition, 422 families in a situation of social vulnerability received social and psychological assistance. As part of the Urban Resettlement Project, 37 indigenous, fishermen and riverside families were relocated to the new RUC Tavaquara neighborhood, which was specifically planned for those who have ties to the Xingu River. The neighborhood has 150 residences and complete infrastructure, including school, UBS, daycare and leisure areas. The company also develops psychosocial support projects and strengthens family farming, focusing on agroextractivism and fishing.
Prosperity