Brazilian general director of Itaipu Binacional, Jorge Miguel Samek, affirmed that the whole debt of the company will be paid until 2023. During a hearing at the Brazilian Representation in Mercosul Parliament, on Tuesday (18), Samek showed the chronogram of payments of the whole debt of Itaipu, which will have an operational income this year of US$ 2.8 billion.

Itaipu debt, the director informed, is about US$ 20 billion. Up to 2023, however, US$ 32.3 billion will be spent to pay it, interests included. The plant, estimated initially in US$ 12.2 billion, consumed US$ 27 billion to be built, Samek informed. The last debt renegotiation, in 1997, allowed the debt to suffer a constant decline, since last year, and it will be fully paid in 16 years. The company, idealized in 1966 and instituted in 1974, inaugurated in May of this year the last of its 20 generators.

In the public hearing requested by deputy Dr. Rosinha (PT-PR), Samek told that 75% from the company’s operational income are committed with payment of debts and interests, remaining 14% for royalties payments and 11% to operational expenses. He affirmed that, since 2004, Itaipu has paid regularly its financial obligations and does not need more financings.

From 1985 to 2006, US$ 6.46 million were paid in royalties for municipal districts and Brazilian and Paraguayan states (US$ 3.23 million to each country). The neighboring country received other US$ 1.11 billion in taxes on extra energy sold to Brazil. Itaipu supplies 20% of the energy consumed in Brazil and 95% of energy consumed in Paraguay. Brazilian government, affirmed Samek, sponsored 100% of the financing for its construction, with integral guarantee of National Treasury.

- Itaipu is considered a model for integration processes in Africa, in Central América and even in Europe - Samek affirmed.