Belo Monte

The Challenge

The Belo Monte Hydropower Project in Brazil, with an installed capacity of 11,233 MW and a reservoir area of 503 km², is one of the largest hydropower plants in the world. Its scale and complexity—30,000 workers at peak construction and over 8,000 displaced properties—posed major environmental and social challenges, requiring robust planning and mitigation to protect ecosystems and affected communities.

The Solution

Tractebel coordinated the identification, management, and tracking of all relevant environmental and regulatory requirements.
Tractebel delivered the full Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), along with a suite of strategic plans: the Construction Environmental Plan, Ecosystem Conservation Plan, Integrated River Management Plan, and the Affected Population Treatment Plan. Our comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach addresses environmental risks and social impacts at every project stage.

The Impact

Our work ensured that environmental safeguards and social obligations were embedded in project design and execution. The plans guided the management of large-scale resettlement, protected sensitive ecosystems, and supported coordinated water use, setting a benchmark for responsible infrastructure development in the Amazon basin.