During the environmental licensing process, riverside residents of the area now occupied by the Xingu reservoir were included in the Population Relocation Plan. This plan included the construction of collective urban and rural resettlements in Altamira and Vitória do Xingu. The relocation of these families was accompanied by social teams, who provided social and psychological support during the process of moving and adapting to their new homes.
However, the body responsible for environmental licensing determined that additional measures be adopted, considering the riverside way of life, especially that directly linked to subsistence and extractive activities on the banks of the Xingu River.
The riverside families are represented by the Riverside Council and the company continued the process of resettling these families on the banks of the Xingu River, within the Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs) of the Belo Monte HPP.
Norte Energia provides assistance to the families directly involved, with community representatives who actively participate in the process. Of the total planned, 162 families have already been resettled.
With regard to urban communities, the execution of 177 environmental education actions for a total of 3,609 people resettled in the city of Altamira stands out. In addition to environmental education actions, social and psychological assistance was offered to 422 families in situations of social vulnerability in Altamira.
As for the Urban Resettlement Project, in 2023, 37 more indigenous families were relocated in an urban context,as well as fishermen and riverside dwellers in the RUC Tavaquara, which was designed, built and intended for families that maintain ties with the Xingu River. This new neighborhood has 150 residences and is the result of demands from this specific public. RUC Tavaquara is equipped with a school, UBS, leisure area, dock, living space and daycare.
Norte Energia has also been implementing complementary projects, such as psychosocial assistance and strengthening family farming (with an emphasis on agroextractivism and fishing).
Fishermen
Throughout 2023, we continued actions aimed at strengthening the fishing and aquaculture sector in the region located in the Area of Influence of the Belo Monte HPP, both within the scope of the Sustainable Fishing Incentive Project and also in compliance with the specific conditions of Operating License No. 131/2015.
Regarding the conditions related to the fishing public, the proposal for projects on technical and social assistance is being discussed with Ibama. The objective is to continue carrying out the actions planned to provide technical assistance for fishing, in the section that is undergoing changes due to the formation of the Xingu reservoir and the Reduced Flow Stretch.
In 2023, on the recommendation of Ibama, we carried out financial compensation in the amount of BRL 20,000 for the people who make up the registry of participatory workshops held by Norte Energia, between 2017 and 2019.
The licensing body also determined individual analysis for those not registered, based on criteria proving fishing activity in the area of influence of the Belo Monte HPP, in a period prior to the formation of the reservoirs – January 2016. The analyses are being carried out in accordance with the criteria validated by Ibama.
It is also important to highlight that, in 2023, several service shifts and meetings were held in Altamira, Senador José Porfírio, Vitória do Xingu and Anapu.
Regarding the sustainable fishing project for fishermen in extractive reserve areas in the Middle Xingu region, a meeting was held with ICMBio. The topic was discussed again with Ibama.
Kayapó Project
As part of the actions for the territorial strengthening of the headwaters of the Xingu River and adhering to the socio-environmental commitments of the environmental licensing, Norte Energia also continued to support the Kayapó. As a result, Eletrobrás and Norte Energia allocate resources to support socio-environmental projects and programs aimed at this people. In 2022, we continued to support the Kayapó Mekrãgnoti Program through the execution of a Cooperation Agreement with the Kabu Institute.
The Kayapó indigenous lands, components of the aforementioned program, are Mekrãgnoti and Baú, which constitute the lands of the Kayapó D’Oeste, located in the region known as Arco do Desmatamento (Arc of Deforestation), in the south of Pará. The Kayapó have played a fundamental role in protecting the forest’s natural resources. The thematic axes of the Mekrãgnoti Program are:
- Surveillance and territorial protection;
- Sustainable economic activities; and
- Cultural appreciation.
In 2023, Norte Energia carried on supporting projects with the Kayapó people, in accordance with the socio-environmental licensing commitments. In collaboration with Eletrobras, we finance initiatives that aim to protect indigenous territory and promote sustainable economic activities.
Prosperity