Position of the people affected by dams regarding the cancellation of the dam in the Tapajós River

The Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) considers that the decision of the IBAMA in not granting the license for the installation of Hydroelectric Plant São Luiz do Tapajós, in the Brazilian Amazon region, is primarily a victory of the people that have been fighting against the construction of this hydroelectric for a long time.

Are victorious, at this moment, all communities affected and threatened by dams that have for decades denounced the ongoing violation of human rights in the case of the construction of hydroelectric plants in Brazil.

The MAB also honors and appreciates the support of so many grassroots organizations, trade unions, environmentalists, religious pastoral and civil servants who put themselves in favour of the struggle of the affected people, thereby strengthening the struggle of the peasants, indigenous people, fishermen and miners who are the subjects and protagonists of this victorious fight.

The MAB, however, alerts that the fight is not over. This region and this river, like so many other regions and rivers in Brazil and in the world, are coveted by big entrepreneurs and capitalists who are only out to seek profit at any cost, and who will do anything to return to threaten the peoples who live at the margins of the Tapajós.

The MAB will continue its struggle in this region, organizing and fighting for the rights of those affected and threatened by dams. In our opinion, the reason that the IBAMA is not granting the license in this moment is part of the current economic and political scenario that our country is living. First of all, there is no need to produce more energy in this scenario of low economic growth.

Moreover, with an interim and illegitimate government, it wouldn´t look good to keep an unnecessary and politically controversial project such as the construction of the São Luiz do Tapajós Dam, in the Brazilian Amazon.

Lastly, we denounce that the current Brazilian energy model only favors large national and multinational companies who make huge amounts of profit off the extremely high price charged in the electricity bills at the expense of the work of our people, the expulsion of those affected from their regions and of environmental destruction. The recent case of the dam in Mariana in Minas Gerais is the true image of this perverse and anti-popular model.

The MAB believes that only the struggle and organization can build a popular energy project for Brazil.

Water and electricity with sovereignty, distribution of income and popular control!

Movement of People Affected by Dams – MAB

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Ibama cancels licensing of hydroelectric in the Tapajós

The Ibama canceled the licensing of hydroelectric plant São Luiz, expected to be built in the Tapajós River, west of Pará. The Movement of those Affected by Dams (MAB) celebrates the decision and stresses that it is fruit of the struggle of indigenous people, riverines and all other communities threatened by the construction of the hydroelectric plant.

In order, the licensing board concludes that "the HEP São Luiz do Tapajós project does not show enough maturity to be submitted to the scrutiny of environmental licensing, regarding the inclusion of the environmental variable in its conception as well as the conflicts about the right to use the intended area, which has generated considerable

São Luiz do Tapajós would flood indigenous land Sawré Muybu, of the Munduruku indigenous people. Furthermore, it would cause the removal of this population, which is vetoed by law. It would also bring enormous environmental damage to one of the most preserved areas of the Amazon, surrounded by conservation units. According to the organ, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the power plant has serious flaws concerning impacts on the environment.For us it was a step forward in our fight as an organized people, as women, indigenous people, with other organizations, because we know that the dam will not bring benefit to our community and to our region," says Gelsiane Nascimento, activist of the MAB and resident of the Pimental community, which would be removed due to the construction of the hydroelectric dam.

The FUNAI and the Federal Public Ministry had also pointed out the unfeasibility of the project. The hydroelectric plant had had its license suspended in February this year, but now the process has, in fact, been archived. "The Movement however, will
continue its work of organizing the people to resist this enterprise because we know that new threats can arise at any moment from projects, especially in this conjuncture of attacks on rights," states Gelsiane.

The electric sector foresees the construction of a series of hydroelectric dams in the Tapajós, São Luiz was the one in its most advanced stage. Seen as a priority, the prediction was that it would be auctioned at the end of this year. The plant would have
8,000 MW of power and would be the fourth largest hydroelectric dam in the country, behind Itaipu (binational), Belo Monte and Tucuruí (both in the state of Pará).