Manuel María Cáceres, Paraguayan director of Itaipú, affirmed that the cost of the rate will only be discussed within a month. This is due to the fact that Anatalicio Risden Junior, the new Director of the Brazilian side, only took office last Tuesday, February 22, and requested that period of time to analyze the matter.
“They asked for time and it will be extended for a month. Brazil has carnival next week, a long holiday. The reason is to give the new director time. It has nothing to do with a change in Brazil’s position. We are negotiating”, he stated for Ñanduti AM.
ESCAURIZA
German Escauriza, an expert on energy issues, stated that our country owns 50% of the energy produced by Itaipu. In addition, the debt will be paid off in 2023. With this, the cost of the tariff will be reduced to less than half and with this, the Paraguayan State will have the opportunity to exercise its right to property for the use and enjoyment of that energy.
“By reducing the rate price, ANDE will be able to contract 50% of the contracted power. Itaipu is authorized to market power and not energy. Only ANDE is the one that can market the energy. What is convenient for the Paraguayan State is to contract 50%, use the energy it needs and the one it has left over, sell at a fair price”, he stated.
Finally, he said that it is convenient for ANDE to commercialize Paraguayan energy in the Brazilian market and not the same Itaipu binational.
VUYK
Cecilia Vuyk, also an expert on energy issues, stated that the rate issue is the tip of the iceberg, since lowering or maintaining the rate without a Paraguayan national strategy will not get us anywhere.
“It is an attempt by the government to divert attention. It is essential to put the magnifying glass on the central points; the sale of our energy from the public sector, the cessation of payment of the corrupt debt, the recovery of territory and power in Itaipu, with sovereign decisions from each State, and incorporating the budget of Itaipu, Paraguayan side to the PGN. These items are off the agenda today and need to be placed,” he commented.
He warned that not presenting these points to the Brazilian position means losing the 2023 renegotiation in advance.
CONTEXT
On December 13, Abdo Benítez and Jair Bolsonaro were supposed to meet in Mato Grosso do Sul. However, due to climatic factors, the Brazilian president was unable to attend the meeting. It was estimated that, after the agreement, the cost of the rate would be defined.
Finally, it was postponed until February 23, without the presence of both national leaders, but it was postponed again due to the resignation of Army Reserve General Joao Francisco Ferreira, Director of Itaipu, on January 26. Brazilian. The argument was “personal reasons”. He left before completing a year in office (he took office in April 2021). In his place, Admiral Anatalicio Risden Junior, who was financial director, took over.
