December 31, 2007
Brazil's development bank BNDES has approved a BRL2.6bn loan to the Usina Hidreletrica Estreito, a hydro project in the state of Tocantins being run by a consortium of investors and builders. The total investment for the project is BRL3.6bn, and the BNDES agreed to finance 73% of that. Estreito is the largest energy project detailed in the Brazilian government's annual growth plan and is the fourteenth hydro project to be funded by the BNDES this past year, according to the bank. The consortium building the project is made up of Suez Energy South America, Vale, Alcoa Aluminio and Camargo Correa Geracao de Energia.