South America |


A profound transformation


The Brazilian dam sector is undergoing transformation and is being compelled to adapt accordingly. Diego Antonio Fonseca Balbi, Director of Publications and Institutional Relations for the Brazilian Committee on Dams (CBDB) gives more details.


region, stands as one of the pioneering milestones of Brazilian engineering in large-scale underground works and challenging geotechnical environments. With successive expansions over the decades, the complex has become one of the pillars of the region’s economic development, providing continuous energy and driving industrial growth. Its construction symbolises a critical moment in Brazil’s transition toward a robust, interconnected, and sophisticated electric power sector. Significant advances followed with the construction of


Above: The Belo Monte complex on the Xingu River


BRAZIL’S DAM HISTORY DATES back to the 16th century, with Apipucos – documented in 1577 – recognised as the earliest known dam structure in the country. But only in 19th century was dam engineering effectively applied to support the industry, and as a response to society’s water and humanitarian needs. The construction of the country’s first large public


Below: The Tucuruí hydropower plant with spillway capacity of 110,000m3


/sec


reservoir, the Cedro Dam, started in 1890 in Ceará and marked the beginning of structured hydraulic infrastructure in response to severe drought cycles in the Northeast of Brazil. Hydropower generation also played an important pioneering role in the development of dams in the country, with the first facilities built in the 1890s, some of the first in the world. Most notably we have two in the Minas Gerais state: Ribeirão do Inferno, built in Diamantina in 1883 to provide energy for mining and the Marmelos Plant, constructed to supply electricity to the city of Juiz de Fora, in 1889. Marmelos was the first one intended to produce energy for a public utility in South America. The old plant is now a museum, but the dam is still operating for a new powerplant built later. In the 1950s, the Paulo Afonso Hydropower Complex, onward on the São Francisco River, in the northeast


the Três Marias plant, inaugurated in 1962. Besides being one of the largest geotechnical projects in the world at the time, one of its highlights was the technical advisory provided by the renowned Arthur Casagrande. The Furnas Hydropower Plant, inaugurated in 1963 on the Rio Grande, marked a turning point in Brazil’s energy development and the consolidation of national dam engineering. Its large reservoir –one of the largest in the country –became essential for meeting the growing energy demand of Brazil’s Southeast region, particularly São Paulo. In addition to boosting energy supply, Furnas played a decisive role in technological advancement, the training of specialised professionals, and the expansion of the country’s hydroelectric infrastructure. By the 1970s and 1990s, Brazil gained international


prominence with the construction of major hydropower projects, such as Itaipu and Tucuruí –developments that the CBDB points to as symbols of the maturity and excellence of Brazilian dam engineering, which “evolved and reached international prominence” during this era. Between 2000 and 2020, other major projects were built in Brazil, drawing on this extensive accumulated experience. Among the most prominent are the: Irapé Hydropower Plant Dam, the highest in the country at 210m and featuring a rockfill structure with a clay core; Santo Antônio and Jirau dams on the Madeira River, whose spillways allow the passage of floods in excess of 80,000m3


/sec; and Belo Monte complex on the Xingu River, with an installed capacity of 11,233MW, comprising two main dams and 28 dikes. More recently, engineering expertise has expanded


into advanced tailings dam systems, reflecting the country’s strong mining sector and growing demand for safety, innovation, and environmental responsibility. Brazil has one of the world’s largest and most diverse dam inventories. National regulatory consolidations report over 30,000 dams, spanning multiple functions such as hydropower, water supply, irrigation, and mining waste storage. It is estimated that there are tens of thousands of other small structures not registered in the national database, especially those dedicated to water supply and irrigation in small communities. Benefiting from diverse geology and large river basins, Brazil employs all major dam types, including:


20 | April 2026 | www.waterpowermagazine.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45