en.Wedoany.com Reported - This week, the expansion project of Foz do Areia, the largest hydropower plant under Brazil's Paraná State Energy Company (COPEL), reached a critical milestone. The plant's powerhouse completed site clearing and aquatic animal rescue operations, preparing for the installation of two new generating units in addition to the existing four. The project will increase the plant's installed capacity from the current 1,676 megawatts to 2,536 megawatts, a rise of approximately 50%, with a total investment of 1.3 billion reais. Main construction is expected to begin in September.

Preliminary preparations for the project focus on the massive concrete channels beneath the future generating units, which will house metal water conduits. After water drives the turbines, it flows back into the Iguaçu River through these channels. Each channel floor is approximately 27 meters long and normally maintains a thin layer of water. To gain access to the channel entrances, COPEL commissioned a specialized company to capture and relocate fish and other aquatic animals from the channels. All rescued individuals were assessed and safely released into the reservoir in accordance with environmental permit procedures.

After the rescue operations, barriers will be installed to prevent new fish from entering. Subsequently, the structures will be inspected and necessary adjustments made to accommodate the installation of the new units. Located on the Iguaçu River in the municipality of Pinhão, Paraná State, the Foz do Areia hydropower plant's expansion plan utilizes the space and civil structures reserved in the original 1970s design, enabling increased renewable energy output without the need to build new dams or reservoirs.