MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Itaipú proposal” waits President Lugo when he visits Brazil

Brazil could anticipate payments to Paraguay for the energy from the shared huge Itaipu dam, which should help the Treasury of the weakened President Fernando Lugo. However Brazil would also like to see an end to Paraguay’s intention of modifying the Itaipu dam accord, according to the Brazilian press quoting government sources.

Quoting unnamed Brazilian presidency and ruling coalition sources, Estado de Sao Paulo says that the proposal will be presented to President Lugo when he visits Brazil next May 7.

The initiative says the Sao Paulo daily is geared to advance payments on energy from Itaipú not consumed by Paraguay thus helping the Lugo administration finances, “short of cash” and politically debilitated following the “three paternity demands”.

Itaipu in the heartland of South America is shared by Brazil and Paraguay and is the world’s largest operational hydroelectric dam. Built in the seventies the original agreement can’t be reviewed until 2023. Brazil picked the bill for the dam, but Paraguay makes regular payments from its non consumed share of power generated. The surplus 90% of Paraguay’s power share is sold to Brazil.

But President Lugo made one of his electoral promises the review of the Itaipu treaty alleging the energy can only be sold to its huge neighbour and at prices dating back to the seventies. “We want a better deal” was the campaign motto but Brazil remains unmoveable regarding such initiative.

Both countries have been negotiating some form of new deal because President Lugo decided on a self imposed timetable for a friendly understanding: next August. If not Paraguay could appeal to international justice courts or tribunals.

Paraguay argues that if its energy surplus was sold on the free market it could collect maybe eight to ten times what Brazil currently pays. Brazil says that it’s a fair deal and the net payment is because Paraguay must cancel the Itaipu construction debt.

Speaking from Rio do Janeiro Mines and Energy minister Edison Lobao said another option under consideration by the Brazilian government would be to extend the Paraguayan payments timetable from 2023 to possibly 2040, which would make net instalments more interesting for Paraguay.

“We could agree on smaller instalments by extending the recoup period to 2030 or 2040, so both countries can receive higher royalties”, said Lobao. He added President Lula da Silva had asked him to think about something to help Paraguay.

“President Lugo’s claims are not fair: he says we owe him money and that is not the case. However since it’s a brotherly country we are prepared to help them. I think we’ll have something ready for when he meets President Lula da Silva”, said Lobao.

Currently Paraguay is paid 130 million US dollars annually, a sum Paraguay would like increased to 1.2 billion US dollars based on current power rates.

Last January Brazil made a counteroffer which included several infrastructure public works and a billion US dollars in financing. Lugo rejected the proposal.

Lobao said that with the new proposal Paraguay could be receiving by 2010, double the current amount, which would be 260 million US dollars.