Dam Safety

Partial dam failure reported at 14 de Julho hydroelectric project in Brazil

Partial dam failure reported at 14 de Julho hydroelectric project in Brazil
(photo courtesy Ceran)

“Part of the structure” of the dam at the 14 de Julho hydroelectric project gave way on May 2, during heavy rains in Brazil’s southern Rio Grande do Sul state.

The 100 MW project, also called Catorze de Julho, is located on the estuary of the Antas River. The roller-compacted-concrete dam has a maximum height of 42 m. The underground powerhouse contains two Kaplan turbine-generator units. The first unit began commercial operation in January 2009. 14 de Julho is part of the 360 MW Ceran complex.

Cia. Energetica Rio das Antas issued a statement on May 2 that said: “After analysis by the technical group, it was found that the partial rupture of the dam at the 14 de Julho Plant, so far, does not bring a significant increase in the existing flows in the Taquari-Antas Basin, being observed in the cities of Santa Tereza and Muçum, the level elevation values ​​were 35 cm and 25 cm, respectively.

“We continue with the security protocols agreed with the Civil Defense and with our teams focused on people’s safety. The scenario still requires attention, as there is the possibility of rainfall evolution, which could increase the flow.

“The dams at the Castro Alves and Monte Claro plants are currently in stable situations.

We sympathize with the communities and victims of the floods.”

The death toll from the heavy rains jumped to 29 as of Thursday night, with another 60 people missing, according to the state’s civil defense agency.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva traveled to the state on Thursday to meet with local authorities and express his solidarity. “Everything that is within reach of our government will be done to attend to the needs of the people who are being affected by these rains,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Operators reported electricity and water cuts across the state, and officials detailed numerous incidents of flooded roads, landslides and collapsed bridges as water levels of rivers and streams rose sharply. More than 10,000 people have been forced from their homes, according to the civil defense agency.

The downpour started Monday and was expected to last through Friday. In some areas, more than 150 mm (6 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours, according to Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology, known by the Portuguese acronym INMET, on Tuesday.

“The current event will be the worst climate disaster that our state ever faced,” Gov. Eduardo Leite said on X late Wednesday afternoon. “We are living a very critical moment in the state.”

Weather across South America is affected by the climate phenomenon El Niño, a periodic naturally occurring event that warms surface waters in the Equatorial Pacific region. In Brazil, El Niño has historically caused droughts in the north and intense rainfall in the south.

This year, the impacts of El Niño have been particularly dramatic, with a historic drought in the Amazon. Scientists say extreme weather is happening more frequently due to human-caused climate change.

This article contains reporting from the Associated Press.