| South America


● Embankment dams (earthfill and rockfill) – the most common, widely used for multipurpose reservoirs and for tailings containment. This aligns with global patterns and adaptability to Brazilian terrain.


● Concrete dams (gravity, arch, RCC) – fundamental in major hydropower complexes such as Itaipu and Belo Monte.


● Tailings dams – a significant Brazilian category, especially in Minas Gerais and Pará, addressed by CBDB’s CT 7 and increasingly integrated with the hydraulic dam community due to shared challenges in safety and environmental stewardship.


● Multipurpose reservoirs – for water supply, irrigation, flood mitigation, and recreation.


This technical diversity is supported by more than 20 CBDB Technical Committees, responsible for maintaining updated guidelines, disseminating best practices, and promoting continuous innovation.


Dam safety Dam safety remains a national priority. In recent years,


Brazil’s dam industry has faced significant challenges driven primarily by climate change and increasing hydrological variability. . Brazil’s most recent national dam safety report (2024–25) registered 24 accidents and 45 incidents, many of which were linked to flooding or extreme rainfall events – highlighting a growing vulnerability of ageing and insufficiently monitored structures in the face of climate extremes. Another major concern is conflicts with other sources of generation. The rapid expansion of intermittent renewable sources such as solar and wind has generated adverse effects on the Brazilian power sector by increasing supply volatility and reducing overall system stability. This variability places growing pressure on hydropower plants—traditionally responsible for providing operational flexibility. As a result, the system’s dependence on dispatchable sources to compensate for renewable fluctuations intensifies, heightening vulnerability and increasing operational costs across Brazil’s electrical grid. Together, these issues illustrate a dam sector


undergoing transformation, challenged by climate change, ageing infrastructure, environmental considerations, and the need for more integrated and robust regulatory frameworks. The Brazilian dam industry is being compelled to adapt quickly, by updating design criteria, reinforcing safety protocols, and rethinking long term hydropower planning in a world where hydrological extremes have become the new normal.


Construction


Dam construction is still taking place in Brazil, with multiple new projects advancing through planning, auction, and construction stages. In 2025, Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy signaled a renewed expansion of the hydropower sector by auctioning 65 new hydro projects, totaling 815MW of new capacity to be delivered by 2030. Although many of these plants are relatively small (under 50MW), this marks a return to dam-building after a period of limited development.


Complementing these initiatives, Brazil is implementing the LRCAP 2026 (Reserve Capacity Auction), a major ongoing federal program intended to strengthen system reliability by contracting firm, dispatchable capacity to balance the growing share of intermittent renewable sources such as solar and wind. The LRCAP includes


www.waterpowermagazine.com | April 2026 | 21 More Information


DAMS WEEK 2026 – Belém, Pará (20–26 September 2026) The flagship event of CBDB, DAMSWEEK, is held annually and, in 2026, will take place in the Amazon. The event will bring together Brazilian and international experts to discuss sustainability, innovation, and dam safety. Technical visits will be conducted at two major dams in the region—Belo Monte and Tucuruí—both mentioned in this article. The programme will also include the INCA Meeting (ICOLD National Committees of the Americas), strengthening regional cooperation and knowledge exchange. https://cbdb.org.br/evento/dams-week-2026?lang=en


the expansion of existing hydropower plants through the installation of new generating units, with auctions scheduled for March 2026.


Undergoing transformation As a Director of the Brazilian Committee on Dams, I have


observed a profound transformation in Brazil’s dam sector. The country is entering a new era defined not only by engineering excellence, but also by a strengthened commitment to safety, sustainability, and innovation. In this context, the CBDB’s mission – promoting best practices in the study, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of dams – has become increasingly vital as the sector responds to climate change, evolving environmental standards, and rising societal expectations. From my own experience in recent years, the severe floods and prolonged droughts Brazil has faced underscore the essential role of reservoirs in protecting people and assets, both by mitigating flood peaks and by securing reliable water supplies for human consumption and irrigation. After all, this is the great role that dams and reservoirs have been contributing to society for millennia.


One of the most significant advancements has been the growing integration between the hydraulic and mining dam communities, a convergence that enhances knowledge sharing, aligns safety cultures, and strengthens national resilience. Through our technical committees, events, publications, and international partnerships, the CBDB cultivates a dynamic ecosystem of continuous improvement—one that mirrors the scale and strategic importance of Brazil’s water and energy infrastructure.


Technical Publications


Through editorials, bulletins, technical reports, and the Revista Brasileira de Engenharia de Barragens, CBDB provides authoritative technical guidance and disseminates state of the art knowledge across all dam- related disciplines. https://cbdb.org.br/revistas


Below: Furnas hydropower plant on the Rio Grande in Minas Gerais, Brazil Source AXIA Archive.


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