The Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, argued this Wednesday (11) that the ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency) move forward with the process of renewing Enel São Paulo's concession.
The statement was made during a hearing at the Mines and Energy Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, where he participated as a guest. "Enel, in principle, meets most, or almost all, of the requirements for renewal, but this is being discussed by..." ANEEL", he said.
Silveira also argued that the analysis regarding the continuation of the concession should be conducted based on technical criteria. "I have been advising..." ANEEL "To depoliticize this issue, so that we can also move forward with the renewal of São Paulo, because it is fundamental that legal certainty is respected," he declared.
Tree planting and power grid
During the hearing, the minister also commented on the recurring blackout episodes recorded in the city of São Paulo. According to him, one of the main challenges faced by the city's electrical grid is related to the high level of urban tree cover combined with the predominance of overhead power lines.
According to Silveira, much of São Paulo's electrical infrastructure runs through areas with trees, which increases the system's vulnerability during severe weather events, such as storms and strong winds.
According to the minister, about 80% of the capital's electrical grid is installed amidst tree cover, a situation that can cause branches or trees to fall on power lines, leading to power outages.
In his assessment, the solution to reducing blackouts depends on joint action between the distributor and the municipal government, especially in the management of urban vegetation. "The problem in São Paulo will not be solved without a partnership between any distributor, whether Enel or another, and the city government on the issue of tree planting," he stated.
Debate on the concession
The statements come amid a process evaluating the continuation of the distributor's concession in the São Paulo capital. The company has been the target of criticism following successive blackouts in recent years, especially during extreme weather events.
Local authorities and regulatory bodies have been discussing possible measures to hold the concessionaire accountable and potential changes to its operation since the end of last year, including the possibility of contract termination.
The distributor, in turn, claims to be investing in modernizing the electrical grid and improving service quality indicators. Last month, the company's global CEO, Flavio Cattaneo, stated that Only Jesus Christ would be able to solve the blackouts in São Paulo.
Currently, the ANEEL The agency is still analyzing the process that could lead to the loss of the distributor's concession in São Paulo. On February 24th, the agency's board decided to extend the review period for another 30 days.
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An answer
Now we understand why the ANEEL They were going to automatically renew the concession. Obviously, everything was already agreed upon. ENEL has already hired a defense lawyer: the Minister of Mines and Energy.
It's incredible that when it was AES, for 20 years it didn't have these serious problems. But it was when ENEL acquired the concession from AES that everything started to get worse, "out of nowhere".