In a surprise statement, a senior government official said hydropower policy needed to be rethought in the face of environmental concerns, indigenous sensitivities and public unease. The decision could reprieve the Tapajos and free-flowing rivers from a plan to open half the Amazon basin to hydro-development. Brazil already gets more than 70% of its electricity from hydropower – one of the highest proportions in the world. The Car Wash corruption investigation exposed how the Workers’ party received campaign donations from Odebrecht in return for over-inflated contracts to build Belo Monte and other infrastructure projects. “Brazil can meet its energy needs without mega-dams, and now it will finally get the chance.”

Source: The Guardian January 04, 2018 17:48 UTC