Large-scale projects and fields of social conflicts: considerations on the social, environmental and political implications of the installation of hydroelectric power plants

Abstract

This article presents a historic retrospective on state intervention on the formation and performance of the Brazilian electricity sector. It also identifies social and environmental effects derived from the installation of hydroelectric power plants; along with the analysis of the claims of local and regional populations, occupants of territories required for the installation of such power plants. These claims, object struggles and negotiations have been forwarded as “rights” that are being negotiated through the Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens (MAB) or Movement of the Affected by Dams, first started in the Basin of the Uruguai River (SC/RS), in Brazil, during the late 1970s and now with national and international projection. This article concludes by noting that the local and regional populations affected by the territorial relocation process as a consequence of the hydroelectric power plant’s installation, starting from the privatization of part of the Brazilian electricity sector during the 90ths, have faced new challenges originated from the activities of consortia and government institutions, responsible in one way or another, by such developments - including the identification and mitigation of social and environmental issues. These challenges, pointed out in recent academic researches, have been evaluated with significant setback in relation to negotiations and solutions to social and environmental issues arising from the installation of these power plants.