- The Brazilian government will invest $70.3m to supply the isolated communities in the Amazon with electricity.
- The first phase is planned for completion in December 2022.
- About 50,000 people are expected to benefit from this phase.
The Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has announced that it will invest BRL 386 million (US$70.3m) in the provision of clean electricity to isolated communities in the Amazonian archipelago of Marajo. According to the announcement, the initial phase of the solar generation and transmission project will benefit over 50,000 people who live in the municipalities of Curralinho, Melgaco and Portel, in Para.
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The first phase is planned for completion in December 2022. The project will be implemented by the State rural electrification programmes – Eletrificacao Rural and the Mais Luz para an Amazonia (MLA), in partnership with local utility Equatorial Para Distribuidora de Energia SA.
The MLA programme, which was launched last year, aims to supply solar energy to 70,000 households inhabiting the remote areas of the Amazon region. Nine states make up the region; Para, Acre, Amapa, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Rondonia, Tocantins and Maranhao.