Electricity giant Diamante, which runs the Jorge Lacerda complex, just announced two billion-dollar projects for Santa Catarina, one for upstate Garuva and the other for a complex located in Capivari de Baixo. ., southern region of the South Caucasus.

Illustrative image for gas-fired electricity generation – Photo: Internet/Disclosure ND

Diamante has signed a contract with Nebras Power Group, a global energy investment company and a subsidiary of Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QWEC), to form a joint venture where the companies can jointly explore investment opportunities in gas-fired power generation. thermal power plants with a focus on Santa Catarina.

This is another important step towards the implementation of the Fair Energy Transition in the State of Santa Catarina, mandated by federal and state legislation enacted in January 2022. This law set out a more organized plan for the energy transition, extending the deadline for shutting down operations until 2040. Jorge Lacerda, who today works with a coal-fired power plant.

According to Pedro Lycek, CEO of Diamante, this flexibility will allow for the lowest possible social impact, as employees (about 20,000 direct and indirect jobs) will have the opportunity to relocate and be absorbed by the two projects, which have now been given the green light. See below for details on each:

Thermal power plant Norte Catarinense in Garuve

The first project is the thermal power plant Norte Catarinense, which will be located in the municipality of Garuva, in the Northern Region. The plant can generate 600 MW in the first phase and is expected to start operating around 2028.

According to the Director General, the investments will amount to 2 to 3 billion reais. “The land and permits are already there. Now the only question is to win the energy auction and start construction,” explains Pedro Licek.

The company expects to participate in the auctions in 2023. If it wins, the construction of the CHPP will begin in 2024. Only at the construction stage, it will create 2,000 jobs, and during operation, about 100 jobs.

“Our Garuva project is an anchor and will even justify the start of operation of the LNG terminal being built in the port of Sao Francisco do Sul by New Fortress Energy,” the CEO explained, citing 2.5 million cubic meters of gas. per day, which will be used at the Norte Catarinense thermal power plant in Garuv and then redistributed throughout the state.

It is important to remember that the São Francisco do Sul terminal will receive liquefied natural gas from several locations around the world such as the USA, Holland, Algeria, Malaysia and others. Where more competitive gas is available, it will be imported without relying on just one source of supply.

Pedro Licek, CEO of Diamond. – Photo: Diamond/Disclosure ND

New power unit in the Jorge Lacerda complex

The second concerns a new power unit with a capacity of 440 MW, which will be implemented at the Jorge Lacerda complex itself. Since there is a lot of space and ready-made infrastructure, such as water and power lines, there is an idea to build a gas-fired thermal power plant there. The timeline is the same as Garuva’s proposal, i.e. starting around 2028. Investments will amount to about 1 billion reais.

Diamante plans to create about 800 jobs during the construction phase and 40 jobs during the operational phase.

“In addition to providing employment and income opportunities for the Santa Catarina economy, these projects will greatly contribute to Brazil’s energy security,” defends the CEO.

Today the Southern region imports energy from other regions. Therefore, in addition to the security of electricity supplies within the state, at more affordable costs, the UK will not be a hostage to weather conditions, since we are talking about sun, rain and wind.

“Today, Brazil is experiencing power outages. For example, during a drought, production drops. Gas energy does not depend on weather factors. It does not stop, its production does not stop,” concludes Pedro Licek.

Find out more about the Jorge Lacerda Complex

The thermoelectric complex Jorge Lacerda, located in Capivari de Baixo, a municipality in the south of Santa Catarina, consists of seven power units grouped into three power plants, which together have an installed capacity of 857 MW of energy. Energy production at the moment is coal.