page_title: Tapajós hydroelectric complex
section_title: Impact
hierarchical_section_title: Tapajós hydroelectric complex / Impact
context_page_description: The Tapajós hydroelectric complex is a proposed complex of hydroelectric dams on the Tapajós and Jamanxim rivers in the state of Pará, Brazil. The Tapajós dams would contain locks, thus converting the river into a navigable waterway. A "platform" model is proposed under which all people and material would be moved by river or by helicopter, avoiding the need to build access roads and the consequent inflow of settlers and environmental damage. However, there have been protests against flooding of indigenous territory by the dams, and the largest dam seems unlikely to be approved.
context_section_description: The project would affect at least 32 communities and 2,000 square kilometres (770 sq mi) of indigenous territory, mostly occupied by people of the Munduruku ethnic group.
  The São Luiz do Tapajós Dam would flood about 7% of the Sawré Muybu Indigenous Territory, and the Boa Fé village would have to be relocated.
  As of 2010 Eletronorte had not applied for registration with the National Electricity Agency to start feasibility studies for the Chacorão plant, since it would flood parts of the Mundurucu and  Sai-Cinza indigenous territories.
  A spokesman said that without a decree to regulate the constitution there was no way to undertake projects in indigenous territories.
  On the Jamanxim River, the Jamanxim Dam would flood 8,516 hectares (21,040 acres) of the Jamanxim National Park.
  It would affect the South Amazon Ecotones Ecological Corridor.
  The Cachoeira do Cai reservoir would flood 15,690 hectares (38,800 acres) of the Jamanxim National Park, 6,800 hectares (17,000 acres) of the Itaituba I National Forest and 20,470 hectares (50,600 acres) of the Itaituba II National Forest.
  The official estimate is that 150 people will be affected.
  The Cachoeira dos Patos reservoir would flood 9,000 hectares (22,000 acres) of the Jamanxim National Park and 360 hectares (890 acres) of the Jamanxim National Forest.
  It would also affect the area around the Tapajós Environmental Protection Area and the South Amazon Ecotones Ecological Corridor.
  An analysis of the two Tapajós River plants published in 2014 concluded that forecasts of demand for electricity had been overstated, and plans did not take into account improvements in efficiency of energy use and the availability of new power sources such as solar and wind power. Taking into account the cost of the transmission system they concluded that the project was not cost-effective even when excluding factors such as loss of fishing and tourism revenue, water quality degradation and carbon emissions.
  A study released in December 2015 took into account carbon and methane emissions from construction and from the Cachoeira do Cai and Cachoeira dos Patos reservoirs, and concluded that there was a high probability that the plants would generate emissions comparable to a natural gas plant.
  In the case of the Cachoeira do Caí there was a possibility that emissions could exceed those of a coal-fired plant.
caption: Sketch map showing locations of dams
  10. Sawré Muybu Indigenous Territory
  16. Sai Cinza Indigenous Territory
  17. Mundurucu Indigenous Territory