Source: Coal
Phase : Preliminary License granted
Project
Preliminary License (LP) – that certifies venture environmental feasibility and establishes the requirements to be in the following phases - was granted in November, 2009 to a 600MW installed capacity that was subsequently rectified to the current 727MW by the
Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama). To UTE Sul the Preliminary License represents an important milestone, enabling the sale of produced energy in the
regulated market (ACR) and/or in the free market (ACL).
The UTE Sul project consists of the construction of a coal-fired thermoelectric power plant in Candiota, state of Rio Grande do Sul, featuring two similar modules, totaling 727MW installed capacity.
Intending to go beyond the brazilian environmental requirements, while at the same time making a sustainable use of national coal with a significant ash content, MPX decided to install fluidized bed boilers. For maximizing complete fuel burning at temperatures lower than those reached by traditional boilers, this technology does not produce significant amounts of nitrogen oxide and is capable of fuel sulfur sequestration by injecting limestone in the combustion chamber.
This type of boiler enables co-burning of biomass aiming minimizing the amount of coal to be burned and, consequently, minimizing CO2 emissions resulting from any combustion process. The choice of the biomass to be used will meet stringent criteria related to the certification of planting areas, calorific power, product quality and reserve location. The boilers to be installed at the UTE Sul plant allow replacement of the original fuel by up to 10% biomass.
Treated water, impounded directly at the Jaguarão river dam, will be used in the machinery installed in UTE Sul. Concession for this dam, to be built by MPX itself, has already been awarded by FEPAM. Water from this dam will also be supplied to neighboring rural areas for multiple uses.
The thermoelectric power plant will be built in an area integrated to
UTE Seival Mine, with 152 million ton of coal reserves.
As a result of this new achievement, MPX competitive position in the Brazilian electricity market is further strengthened.