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# 157 vol XXXVIII NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011 English Edition

Clairton Gadonski, a Braskem member at the Triunfo Petrochemical Complex in Rio Grande do Sul with an LED lamp, one of the company’s energy-saving solutions

ENERGY Projects and ideas that drive the daily lives of individuals, communities and nations informa

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www.odebrechtonline.com.br Read Odebrecht Informa on your iPad and smartphone. Features, articles, videos, photos, animations and infographics. The achievements of the Odebrecht Organization on your tablet and smartphone.

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> Brazil’s Light for All Program brings better living conditions to rural communities in the state of Minas Gerais > Hydropower plant makes the water and sewer system in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espírito Santo, energy self-sufficient > Augusto Roque Dias Fernandes, CEO of Odebrecht Energia, is the third member interviewed for the Savvy Project

> Access all back issues of Odebrecht Informa since no. 1, and download full issues in PDF > Odebrecht Annual Reports since 2002 > Special publications (Special Issue on Social Programs, 60 years of the Odebrecht Group, 40 Years of the Odebrecht Foundation and 10 Years of Odeprev)

> Expansion of Line 4 of the São Paulo Metro brings new mass transit options to the downtown area of Brazil’s largest city > In Rio de Janeiro, Odebrecht and the Brazilian Navy partner up to prepare youth to practice Olympic sports > Braskem reports the best environmental performance in its history > Odebrecht Realizações Imobiliárias has one of the largest numbers of green buildings in Brazil > Dos Mares hydroelectric project supplies 118 MW of clean energy to the people of Panama

On the right path Complexo do Alemão, in Rio de Janeiro, is undergoing social transformation where peace and development now go hand in hand

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ENERGY

#157 6

Braskem invests in diversifying its energy mix and increasing efficiency

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Braskem adopts LED lighting – more economical, efficient, and eco-friendly

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Petrobras’s new headquarters in Vitória uses innovative energy technologies

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By building an SHP, Foz becomes energy self-sufficient in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim

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Complex of three factories in Suape gives the Brazilian textile industry a boost

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Henrique Valladares discusses Odebrecht’s role as an investor in the energy sector

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Teles Pires: innovative ways of mobilizing people to work on a remote project in Brazil

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Odebrecht debuts in the wind power generating segment with wind farms in southern and northeastern Brazil

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The drive in Angola to take electricity to people in a larger swath of the country

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From mine to seaport, the long and essential road of coal produced in Mozambique

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Light for All: heartwarming stories of people switching on electric lights for the first time

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A simple, creative and effective energy-saving project from La Candelaria, Argentina

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In La Plata, the strategic expansion of a YPF refinery’s production capacity

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José Luiz Alquéres and the energy sector’s prospects in Brazil and worldwide

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EDITORIAL

Energy that empowers dreams and ventures “With a track record in the industry that started in the 1950s, when the company built dams in the Brazilian Northeast, Odebrecht is not only a provider of engineering and construction services but also a producer and investor. Through its teams around the world, the Odebrecht Organization is harnessing and sharing its accumulated experience and knowledge to give its local communities the best it has to offer.”

L

opes Sebastião and Dilma Marçal. He lives in the Angolan province of Uíge; she lives in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Both have only just recently started using electricity in their homes because their com-

munities are the beneficiaries of government initiatives involving Odebrecht. Gustavo Checcucci and Fernando Chein. Gustavo works at Braskem,

leading the team responsible for managing the energy the company uses. Fernando works at Odebrecht Energia and is spearheading the company’s debut in the wind power segment. And there are more people like them in this issue of Odebrecht

Informa: José Piquetai, from Mozambique, Julio Romano, from Argentina, Pablo Andreão and José Dalvi, from Espírito Santo, Brazil, and many others who, one way or another, have seen their lives change through Odebrecht’s work in the energy sector. They are either the beneficiaries or the people responsible for making those benefits happen, and their stories of work and life attest to the fact that the spirit of service and hope are two sides of the same coin, and each is vital to the other. With a track record in the industry that started in the 1950s, when the company built dams in the Brazilian Northeast, Odebrecht is not only a provider of engineering and construction services but also a producer and investor. Through its teams around the world, the Odebrecht Organization is harnessing and sharing its accumulated experience and knowledge to give its local communities the best it has to offer. Whether it is the placement of an outlet, switch or lamp, the deployment of a wind farm or the construction of an industrial complex, what matters most is the difference it makes in people’s lives – wherever they are, no matter how many they may be – people with dreams and everyday lives, inspired by the belief that life should be lived to the fullest, with joy, persistence and passion.


maximum yield, minimum waste

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A company that uses 2% of all the power consumed in Brazil, Braskem is investing in the diversification of its energy mix and boosting selfproduction capacity

Braskem Unit at the Camaรงari Complex: seeking energy efficiency in production processes

Odebrecht Archives

written by Thereza Martins photos by Dario de Freitas


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o run the equipment at its plants in the Brazilian states of Alagoas, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul, Braskem uses roughly 2% of all the power consumed in

Brazil. Compared to the consumption of the nation’s industrial sector as a whole, that percentage reaches nearly 5%. What’s more, when analyzing the chemical industry, which includes Braskem, the company’s demand exceeds 50% of the total, demonstrating Braskem’s important role in the national energy scene. “The chemical and petrochemical industries are key users of energy inputs, along with mining, steel and glass producers,” explains electrical engineer Gustavo Checcucci, the officer Responsible for Electricity Management at Braskem. Using a wide range of technologies and processes, the company’s 28 plants in Brazil consume

Gustavo Checcucci, in front, with members of his team (Mauro Koiti Kumahara, Lucas Garcia Nishioka, Fabio Yanaguita and Kelly Sayuri Yamaki): responsible for managing the energy Braskem uses. Below, transporting coal in Triunfo: a diversified mix

energy from numerous sources. Braskem’s energy mix includes natural gas, fuel oil, coal, electricity and residual fuels (oil and gas generated by industrial processes at the plants). The company has a specific body that manages all these inputs: the Energy Directorate, including

used every month and the user receives an invoice

three managers, one dedicated to the regulation

at the end of each period. As with any other type of trade, free market pric-

energy efficiency, and the third responsible for the

es fluctuate according to supply and demand. Dur-

self-production program.

ing the rainy season, for example, water reservoirs

Monitoring performance The management of electricity use at Braskem is consolidated on the 25th floor of the building where the company has its headquarters in São Paulo. Linked to the company’s plants through a network, it is the home base of the Energy Operations area, where three engineers led by Gustavo Checcucci are hard at work. By scrutinizing TV and computer screens, they keep track of the real-time consumption and supply needs of each of the company’s factories to ensure that they get the best possible service. Their team is also responsible for purchasing energy on the open market, an alternative to the “captive market” (Regulated Environment), to which the vast majority of consumers are accustomed. This way, the supplier measures the amount of energy

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Photo: Mathias Kramer

and sale of electricity, another focused on fuels and


are full and prices fall, rising again in the dry sea-

the plants’ operations and plan your procurement

son. Likewise, the cost of energy is higher at times

in advance,” says Gustavo, adding: “In this sense,

of peak demand - for example, from 6 pm to 9 pm.

the free market benefits us with a choice. In 2010,

“To purchase electricity at the most competi-

the Energy Operations area’s negotiations saved

tive prices you have to know the future needs of

Braskem BRL 23.5 million.” The annual cost of energy inputs for the company totals roughly BRL 750 million. Braskem’s share of electricity purchased from the power grid is 10%, and in the second half of 2011, it represented 3.2% of the cost of goods sold. Finding better prices, deadlines, contracts, payment terms and partners is a daily effort, but there are other fields to be explored. Market regulation is one of them. With this aim in mind, Braskem forms part of the Brazilian Association of Large Industrial Energy Consumers (ABRACE) and keeps a close eye on discussions of issues such as possible tariff reductions, one of the factors which most affect the cost of energy.

Client support While negotiations on the free market benefit Braskem, they can also add value to its clients’

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businesses. Based on this reasoning and assumptions supported by the Visio program, the Polymers (Sales) and energy areas are taking their experience to Borealis Brasil, a Braskem affiliate (the company owns a 20% stake through a joint venture). “Like TEO [the Odebrecht Entrepreneurial Technology], the Visio program, which is specific to Braskem, is based on the principle of building and maintaining partnerships with individual clients,” says Octávio Pimenta, Sales Leader for the compounds segment, which participated in negotiations with Borealis. “By teaming up to purchase electricity, we are putting the spirit of service and innovation into practice to help our clients overcome the challenges they face.” For some time now, Borealis has seen migration to the free market as a competitive option. “We were not sure if the move would be feasible because it would require the additional work of planning and management, and we did not have a specialized team for that,” says chemical engineer Laudemir Sarzeta da Silva, the company’s Director of Operations. “Now we can count on this partnership with Braskem and will have time to evaluate

Ludemir Sarzeta da Silva, from Borealis: partnership guarantees energy acquisition

the experience,” he adds. Working with a partner that sells power, Braskem purchased electricity for Borealis. The agreement

farms. “For us, this is an added incentive. In ad-

is valid for one year, enough time for the company

dition to getting more competitive energy, we are

to decide if it will go ahead with the partnership

choosing the path of sustainability,” says Lau-

or return to the “captive market.” The energy in-

demir.

puts purchased are for Borealis’s unit in Itatiba,

Borealis currently spends up to BRL 6 million per

São Paulo, which has a production capacity of 24

year on energy inputs and expects to save approxi-

tonnes per year of polypropylene compounds, raw

mately BRL 400,000 by migrating to the free market.

materials for the auto industry and household ap-

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pliances. Borealis has another plant in Brazil, at

Energy efficiency

the Triunfo Petrochemical Complex in Rio Grande

Thermal energy generated by natural gas, coal, fuel

do Sul, which already benefits from a competitive

oil and residual fuel represents 90% of Braskem’s en-

energy supply.

ergy mix. These inputs are burned in the furnaces and

In Itatiba, Borealis’s power consumption totals

boilers of the plants’ Utilities areas and converted

approximately 2,320 kW per month. According

into steam to drive the processes of the petrochemi-

to the regulatory requirements for this market,

cal industry.

companies with a demand of 500 kW to 3,000 kW

Purchasing inputs under contract, managing

can participate in the free market as long as the

energy and complying with regulatory standards

supply comes from renewable energy sources

are some of the tasks of the team led by engineer

such as small hydropower plants (SHPs), bio-

Marcelo Wasem, who is responsible for fuels and

mass electricity cogeneration plants and wind

energy efficiency in the Energy Operations area.

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want to have an overview of all Braskem initiatives related to energy efficiency to find the best way to support the teams that are spearheading these projects,” he says. Soon, every project introduced by company members – whether its focus is innovation, productivity or quality – will also include some information about its potential impact on energy efficiency.

Sustainable option Because of logistics, the Braskem Basic Petrochemicals Unit (UNIB) in Triunfo is the company’s only plant that uses coal as an energy source. “More than 90% of the coal reserves in Brazil are located in the South, mostly in Rio Grande do Sul,” says Marcelo Wasem. “And Braskem uses a significant part of that input, due to its competitive price,” he emphasizes. However, Brazilian coal gives off large amounts of ash (35% of total volume). Fly ash, which is dry, is sold to the cement industry. However, a sustainable alternative to tailing ponds has yet to be found for the wet bottom ash removed from boilers after the burning process. One viable option could be on the horizon as a result of a pilot project, already underway, that uses bottom ash to make brick blocks. Entrepre“The company is investing in projects to increase

neur Mauro Pezzi Parode based the design on

its capacity for self-production and improve the

technology developed almost 30 years ago by the

energy efficiency of the inputs it consumes,” says

Science and Technology Foundation (Cientec) of Rio

Marcelo. By efficiency, he means maximizing use

Grande do Sul.

and minimizing waste, while ensuring quality, cost

With the help of the City of Triunfo, which pro-

competitiveness and reducing negative environ-

vided a warehouse in the industrial zone of the city,

mental impacts, among other features.

and of Braskem, which provided guidance on legal,

“We are working to develop a systemic view of

environmental and occupational safety matters,

efficiency, that is, mapping the production units to

Mauro Parode is already producing at pilot scale.

understand how each device and each routine op-

“I’ve equipped the factory with its own resources,

erates and can make the most of its potential. We

and hired and trained people to work there. Today,

also identify bottlenecks, provide solutions, estab-

our production capacity is up to 4,000 units daily,”

lish monitoring indicators and compare them with

he says. Production is not yet at full capacity, be-

the market,” says Marcelo.

cause Mauro is looking for a partner interested in

A consultant will come on board by the end of

using the blocks to build brick houses. Braskem

2011 to help with these activities, with a view to

provides the ash used to make the bricks free of

achieving results by 2012. Marcelo Wasem ex-

charge.

plains that, so far, the gains in energy efficiency

Cientec studies show that bottom ash can also be

achieved are due to specific projects carried out

used to manufacture sleepers for railway projects,

by the Maintenance and Productivity teams. “We

as well as serving as a base for paving roads.

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idea A bright

Braskem decides to install LED lighting in all its facilities

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written by Luciana Móglia photos by Ricardo Chaves n this case, it is more appropriate to say that

The group formed to suggest improvements used

when the idea came, a light bulb went off. And

a period of transition to seek a sustainable solution.

LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting switched

“Gas discharge lamps, which were the type most

on instead. Technologically advanced, this

commonly used, contain mercury and generate more

kind of light helps reduce power consumption,

waste by using reactors and having a short life,” says

offers more durability compared to other solutions,

Clairton Gadonski, a member of the Electrical and

and does not contain mercury. There were more than

Maintenance area and the person responsible for

enough reasons for Braskem to decide to invest in

forming the group.

LED at one of its units in Rio Grande do Sul, making

The first stage of the work of the multidisciplinary

the company a pioneer in the use of this type of light-

team composed of representatives from the Electri-

ing on an industrial scale.

cal, Instrumentation and Procurement areas, and

This move, taken in 2009 to improve the light-

Braskem’s partner electrical company, was studying

ing conditions of the Basic Petrochemicals Unit at

available solutions. Among those evaluated were LED,

the Triunfo Complex in Rio Grande do Sul, was just

T5 fluorescent and sodium vapor lamps. The main fea-

the first step. Fifteen thousand tubular fluorescent

tures the group tested were temperature, light output,

lights will be replaced with LED lights by the end

efficiency, electrical parameters, user acceptance,

of 2012, marking the completion of the first phase

cost effectiveness and environmental impact.

of the project. The company’s investment will total USD 1.8 million. The projected payback period is 12

Five to 70 times more durable

months, and the project will soon be replicated in

LED lamps beat out the rest in virtually every point.

other Braskem units.

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“They last five to 70 times longer, depending on the


ea Clairton Gadonski, a Braskem member based in Triunfo: LED produces less waste

technology you’re comparing them with, generate en-

LED lamps. In the pilot tests conducted, the result

ergy savings of 20% to 80% and have a smaller impact

has been 35% higher luminous flux (measurement of

on the environment,” says technology researcher

the perceived power of light) and a 40% reduction in

Flávio Dieterich, also a member of the group. How-

energy consumption.

ever, there was one drawback: the price.

The introduction of LED fixtures in street lighting

But the group did not give up. “As time went on,

is also being tested as a pilot project. Twenty 20 LED

prices went down and quality improved, so the technol-

lamps have been installed, which are now lighting the

ogy has become competitive with other options,” says

operating area and the streets of the company’s units. aprendizados

José Eduardo:

Thiago Oliveira, a representative of the Procurement

The next step is to replace all the 500precisam mercuryse vapor

area. He takes the lead in negotiations with suppliers of

lamps used for that purpose.

converter em

lights, lamps and fixtures. “Suppliers have realized that

The operational areas where the new lighting

Braskem could be a major partner and a showcase for

will be installed include the boilers, which are being

this alternative,” he says. Braskem chose Philips, one

adapted for LED. Specific lighting will be installed for

of the world’s leading manufacturers, as the supplier

the furnaces, using LED technology. Finally, the proj-

for its first major purchase of LED tube lamps.

ect will move on to the warehouses and workshops:

The plant started making the switch in January

the investment made so far at UNIB totals BRL

2011. Braskem’s program to replace conventional

800,000, with a projected payback period of one year,

lighting with LED is taking place on four fronts. One

considering all the benefits the new system will bring.

is the replacement of lamps in UNIB’s administrative

Meanwhile, Braskem has decided that its buta-

area, control rooms and substations. Two thousand

diene plant, scheduled to go online in 2013 in Rio

fluorescent tubes have already been replaced with

Grande do Sul, will be entirely lit with LED.

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Creativity goes through the

roof

A model for sustainability, the new Petrobras building in eastern Brazil is equipped with high-tech energy-saving features

T

written by Fabiana Cabral

photos by

Lívia Aquino

he state of Espírito Santo is the second-

Odebrecht Infraestrutura, Camargo Corrêa and Hochti-

largest oil producer in Brazil and is ex-

ef, was chosen to take the project off the drawing board

pected to attain production of 400,000

and deliver a building that is a model of sustainability

barrels per day by the end of the year.

and energy efficiency.

In 1957, Petrobras was the first to ex-

The chosen site was a hill in the Barro Vermel-

plore for oil in that state. Since then, several fields have

ho neighborhood. The main entrance is on Aveni-

been discovered, and in 2001 the company established

da Nossa Senhora da Penha. With a built area of

its headquarters in the state capital, Vitória. Due to the

95,000 m2, the complex comprises two office tow-

growth of production, especially in the 2000s, Petrobras

ers connected by a central building, a Virtual Real-

decided to build a new headquarters

ity Center, a Data Processing Center, a restaurant

there. Consórcio OCCH, a

and a utilities building. About 600 professionals are

joint venture of

currently working at the jobsite, which will eventu-

14 Petrobras’s new headquarters in Vitória and, opposite, some of the pipes used to keep chilled water circulating between floors: a modern air-conditioning system

ally be used by 2,000 people. The complex was designed to make the most of the region’s natural ad-


vantages, such as abundant sunshine and cooling

water that circulate between the floors of the com-

breezes, and will be equipped to make it eco-ef-

plex and the chillers in the utilities building, where

ficient. “This building is a showroom for sustain-

the process begins.

able processes and high technology, including the

The new Petrobras Building’s Chilled Water Plant

use of solar energy and low heat absorption glass,

contains four chillers of three types: electric, where

100% sewage treatment and water recycling to

heat is expelled (similar to the process of cooling a

water the garden and flush toilets, as well as an

refrigerator), absorption, using chemical reactions

economic air-conditioning system,” observes Ode-

to absorb heat, and air, for emergencies, equipped

brecht Project Director Sidney dos Passos Ramos.

with 12 fans. “The temperature of the water is 5°C

With the energy efficiency of the enterprise in

when it leaves the plant and 15°C with returns,”

mind, Petrobras and the OCCH joint venture opted

says Edimauro Conde Arouca, Project Coordinator

for a modern air-conditioning system that uses

at Eleven Systems, one of the joint venture’s part-

water to cool every room. The Radiant Ceiling

ner companies.

system was installed in the offices and the main

After being chilled, the water is pumped through

building. “This is the first real estate development

the pipes until it reaches coils coupled to metal plates

in Espírito Santo to use this kind of technology,”

in the Radiant Ceiling. “The coils radiate the cold to

says Sidney.

the surface of the plate, which radiates it into the

According to Antônio Morais Telesforo, the Utilities and Electromechanical Installations Manager

room,” explains Edimauro. The water then returns to the chiller and the process starts all over again.

at the joint venture, water is more efficient than air

To control humidity and the amount of CO2 in the

when it comes to heat exchange, and requires less

air, the Radiant Ceiling also uses an air-cooled sys-

energy to cool the building. “The Radiant Ceiling

tem. “Since there is no air exchange with the exter-

reduces water and power consumption by about

nal environment, a device called a fan-coil removes

30%, and keeps out drafts and noise. It regulates

the dirty cold air and clean fresh air comes in,” says

the temperature and humidity, providing more

Antônio Morais. “The rooms have been divided into

comfort for the building’s users,” he explains.

comfort zones to maintain the same temperatures

It is a closed-circuit system composed of 5 km of insulated pipes, which hold 200,000 liters of chilled

and save energy. Users will not even notice that the place is air-conditioned,” he adds.

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A benchmark called

cachoei Construction of a small hydroelectric plant bolsters the city’s standing as a role model for overcoming the challenges of supplying water and sewer services written by Irene Vucovix photos by Bruna Romaro

16 Foz’s SHP on the Itapemirim River: a milestone for the company and the city


iro

F

rom the windows of his office, Pablo Andreão, Director of Foz’s Cachoeiro de Itapemirim Unit in the eastern Brazilian state of Espírito Santo, has a magnificent view of the Itapemirim River

and a good part of a pioneering project. The Small Hydropower Plant (SHP) built on Ilha da Luz (Island of Light) began operations in early November, making the city’s water and sewer utility energy self-sufficient. The SHP is a milestone for Foz and Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espírito Santo’s “Princess of the South.” For the company, this is because it reinforces its role as a hub of excellence in providing an essential service while using energy more efficiently. For the city, it is because it has retrieved the history of Ilha da Luz, which got its name in 1903, the year when the original power plant began operations there and became the driving force that made Itapemirim the first city in Espírito Santo and the third in Brazil to have electric street lights. Precisely 108 years later, Foz has invested BRL 30 million in the construction of an SHP that includes the restoration of part of the structure built at the time of the old power plant, which also spotlights a history that is a source of pride for the entire community. Ilha da Luz is once again living up to its name through a venture that generates 500 times more energy than the old plant did in the early 20th century. The SHP is designed to generate 3.8 MW of power, 36% more than the 2.8 MW planned in the initial design, and enough energy to power a city of 40,000 inhabitants. “Electricity is the biggest part of a water and sewer utility’s budget,” says Pablo Andreão. “The commercial operation of the SHP makes Odebrecht’s environmental solutions company a role model for energy efficiency and sustainability. This will be highly positive for the local community and partnerships with suppliers by creating value for shareholders and the entire water and sewer business in Brazil.” Andreão took the helm at Foz in Cachoeiro de Itape-

mirim in June. A 10-year member of the Odebrecht Organization, he has actively participated in the entire process of implementing the SHP, which began in 2003 with the initial feasibility studies. Later, in 2005, he oversaw the licensing process and, as of June 2010,

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he has supervised construction of the plant. Because

“The SHP will strengthen the status Cachoeiro

it is being built in an urban area, it required extensive

de Itapemirim already enjoys as a benchmark for

dialogue with the community and an intense social

its water and sewer system, which has made our

and environmental education program.

city one of the first in Brazil to address the issues of

The biggest beneficiaries of the plant’s commercial operations will be residents of the urban area, which is

water supply and sewer services through a publicprivate partnership,” says Pablo Andreão.

home to more than 90% of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim’s

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190,000 inhabitants. Foz supplies drinking water to

World class

99.5% of the properties in that region, and 92.5% are

“Foz has the water and sewer service conces-

also serviced by sewer systems. Andreão observes:

sion until 2035 and is responsible for operating,

“The SHP will ensure the steady operations of the util-

maintaining, modernizing and expanding Ca-

ity, whose services require continuous operation of

choeiro de Itapemirim’s water and sewer system.

facilities and equipment located throughout the urban

The goal is to steadily develop a system that was

area that is the municipal seat of Cachoeiro, as well as

already good, thereby enhancing Odebrecht’s val-

in the other nine districts that make up the city.”

ues and philosophy,” says Mário Amaro da Silveira,

Cachoeiro’s economy will also get a tremendous

former COO of Foz in Cachoeiro and now Director

boost from the SHP’s operations because it will allow

of Saneatins, the Tocantins state sanitation com-

Foz to stop sourcing all the energy it uses from the

pany, Foz’s latest achievement, which in October

local public system, as the utility is one of the 10 larg-

obtained a stake in the company’s private-sector

est electricity purchasers in the city. Because this in-

shareholdings (76.52%).

put is critical for industry, the local infrastructure will

Foz took over the operation of the city’s water and

become even more attractive for new and significant

sewer services in 2008. Between 2009 and 2012, the

developments that will create more jobs and sources

company’s investments will total BRL 75 million,

of income.

compared with BRL 50 million spent over the pre-

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Installing a turbine at the SHP: electricity is the most expensive input for a water and sewer utility

vious 10 years. The BRL 75 million have been dis-

Oliveira observes that the plant’s construction and

tributed on three fronts: water loss reduction and

the visual impact of the works have stirred public in-

automation; expanding the coverage of the sewer

terest and sparked the popular imagination. “Some

system; and construction of the Ilha da Luz SHP.

people even thought the Itapemirim River would be

“Foz has an institutional client, the city govern-

filled in,” he jokes. All the rumors were cleared up,

ment, which is the grantor, but the client is actu-

and the inhabitants were reassured. The Itapemirim,

ally the end consumer, who receives drinking water

a source of pride for Cachoeiro’s residents, is just as

with world-class treatment standards from a utility

it always was, but much cleaner since Foz installed

ranked among the top seven providers of water and

the sewer system.

sewer services in Brazil,” adds Mário Amaro da Sil-

Barber Joseph Dalvi, 71, six-time president of

veira, referring to the ranking the company obtained

the Teixeira Leite District Residents Association and

through the National Quality in Sanitation Award in

willing to serve many more terms in office, can at-

2010.

test to that. He has lived in the same house over-

Luiz Carlos de Oliveira, CEO of the City Regula-

looking the Itapemirim for over 40 years, and has

tion Agency for Public Utilities in Cachoeiro (Ag-

spent many weekends collecting debris floating

ersa), says he is satisfied: sanitation in the city is

in the polluted waters of the river. Over time, his

“well-rounded.” “This makes it possible to focus

daughters grew up, his grandson was born, his hair

our efforts on overcoming challenges related to

turned white and he has learned to understand the

other municipal services, and the city can invest

soul of Itapemirim even better. “Before, the stench

in areas like health and education.” He also points

was unbearable, the fish disappeared, and you could

out that the Ilha da Luz SHP allows the utility to

hear the river groaning for her life. Now, thanks to

provide services more efficiently, which directly

the sewer system, the stench is gone, the fish came

benefits the public by reducing the cost of water

back and it’s full of fingerlings jumping in the water.

and sewer rates.

The river is alive again.”

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A complex of three factories in Suape will be Brazil’s largest integrated hub for polyester production

Project Director José Gilberto Mariano and part of the complex’s facilities: innovation and education through work

20 20

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ener


ergizing the textile industry

O

written by Renata Meyer photos by Tiago Lubambo rganizing the largest integrated poly-

complex, which will contain three plants: polyester

ester production hub in Latin America

polymers and filaments; resin for PET packaging;

at the Suape Industrial and Port Com-

and Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA), the basic raw

plex in Ipojuca, Pernambuco. This is

material for polyester products.

the goal of Companhia Petroquímica

When all three plants are fully operational by the

de Pernambuco – PetroquímicaSuape, a subsidiary

end of 2012, the complex’s electricity consumption

of Petroquisa, the petrochemical arm of Petrobras.

could reach 4.5% of the state of Pernambuco’s en-

Three integrated industrial units will be built in a

tire demand, a total of 100 MW. The client is taking

550,000-m2 area with the aim of giving fresh impetus

several measures to ensure the rational use of en-

to the Brazilian textile industry.

ergy resources on this project, with technical support

To put the plan into effect, Odebrecht Engenharia

from Odebrecht teams.

Industrial has been hard at work since 2007, as the company responsible for detailed engineering, sup-

Cogeneration plant

ply of the materials and equipment, construction

One of those measures is the installation of a cen-

and the assembly of electromechanical units. The

tral cogeneration plant using heat generated by the

Organization’s industrial engineering arm is also re-

PTA production process. The Process Air Compres-

sponsible for managing the construction of the entire

sor (PAC) system will allow the unit to reuse energy

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21


and, therefore, will ensure a savings of approximately 12% in the PTA plant’s power consumption. The main raw material in the production process for PTA is paraxylene, a petroleum product which undergoes oxidation when subjected to high pressure in the presence of air and heat, releasing gases with temperatures in excess of 200oC. “Under no circumstances can these gases be released into the atmosphere, because the impacts on the environment would be very harmful. So the heat extracted during the cooling process is used in the cogeneration plant to produce electric power for the plant’s own use,” says Mauro Ambrosano, General Manager for Maintenance at PetroquímicaSuape. The PAC compresses the air feeding the PTA plant’s oxidation reactor. The compressor is driven by an engine/reactor, which contains a turbine and an expander connected to the same system, driven respectively by steam and hot gases generated during the oxidation process. “The electricity generated by the heat that results from this process is considerably greater than the amount required to run the PAC, so the surplus is exported to the grid and used at the PTA unit,” explains Ambrosano.

Pioneering technology in Brazil Imported by the client, this technology was developed by Invista, a British technology company, in partnership with Siemens of Germany. This is the first time it will be deployed in the Brazilian petrochemi-

22

cal industry. Thanks to the PAC, PetroquímicaSuape

of this magnitude allows us to groom more and more

no longer needs to purchase 30.6 MW from the pri-

people who will be qualified to work on ever more

mary energy grid, providing a savings of up to BRL 5

complex projects,” he adds.

million per month. “Using conventional technologies,

In addition to the PAC, the Suape Petrochemical

all this energy would be wasted,” Mauro Ambrosano

Complex will use other strategies to ensure the ratio-

explains.

nal use of energy. All the civil engineering and archi-

Odebrecht Engenharia Industrial is responsible

tectural designs for the plants ensure maximum use

for installing the equipment in a process that re-

of sunlight, which helps reduce the number of light

quires a high level of expertise. Weighing about 300

fixtures used. This measure, combined with ultra-high

tonnes, the PAC is a rotating assembly in which each

performance equipment, is viewed as a priority in all

component acts on the rest. “The assembly and in-

operations, allowing an estimated energy savings of

stallation of the PAC is a process that requires tre-

about 5%.

mendous precision. Our biggest challenge is to en-

The synergistic integration of the industrial units,

sure perfect alignment of the parts so that everything

seen as a significant competitive advantage in this

works as planned,” says Project Director José Gil-

venture, is also a factor in resource optimization. Us-

berto Mariano. “Participating in pioneering project

ing a central utility to supply the entire complex with

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Inside one of the factories: benefiting the textile industry’s entire supply chain

compressed air and cooling water reduces operating costs and energy wastage.

“The slightest voltage variation, imperceptible in most industrial uses of electricity, could break tex-

The complex also has a central chilled water facil-

tile fibers and force the plant to interrupt its opera-

ity for all the plants. The high-performance, automated

tions. A shutdown of this nature is very harmful for

air-conditioning process continuously monitors tem-

the resumption of the production process, which

perature and humidity inside and outside the plants,

could take weeks,” says Mauro Ambrosano. To en-

and ensures the ideal mix of air to provide suitable con-

sure the stability of the electric current, both the

ditions for the units’ operations while saving energy.

equipment and the substation serving the complex are equipped with a sophisticated power quality con-

Quality power

trol system.

The power supply is one of the factors that have

Thanks to a total investment of BRL 4.9 billion, the

the greatest impact on the textile industry’s opera-

plants at the Suape Petrochemical Complex should

tions due to the high demand for this input in produc-

work nonstop, every day of the year, except during

tion processes, and especially the quality required in

planned maintenance shutdowns. The expectation is

energy transmission, which is crucial to ensuring

that this project will benefit the entire supply chain

that the equipment runs smoothly.

for the Brazilian textile industry.

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23


interview

investor “Here we are, as

written by Zaccaria Junior photo by André Valentim

R

ecently created to manage Odebrecht’s investments and operate power generating assets with a focus on renewable sources, Odebrecht Energia has inherited the legacy of the Organization’s long connection with the electric power generation industry, which dates back to 1952, the year it began building the Ituberá and Candengo hydropower plants in Bahia. It has also been an investor since 1994, starting with the Itá hydro in Santa Catarina, which marked the resumption of private investment in that sector in Brazil. In this interview with Odebrecht Informa, Henrique Valladares, CEO of Odebrecht Energia, discusses the Organization’s achievements and future in this sector. “We are committed to living up to our Shareholders’ confidence in us and to providing energy solutions for other Organization companies and our Clients in Brazil and other countries,” he says.

24

24

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ors” Henrique Valladares: “We have the installed capacity to be investors and operators inside and outside Brazil”

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25


Odebrecht Informa – Odebrecht has a long track

Capanda hydroelectric plant, a major vector for

record as a contractor, participating in the construction

the development of the Angolan economy. Also,

of about half of the power generating facilities in Brazil,

we began our operations in Argentina and Mexico

both on its own and in joint ventures. Did that lead to the

with the Pichi-Picún-Leufú and Los Huites plants,

natural decision to bolster its investment arm?

respectively. Odebrecht has been ranked as the

Henrique Valladares – Odebrecht has a long

largest international builder of hydroelectric dams

history in this area. And the fact that we have extensive

eight times, according to ENR – Engineering News-

experience in the construction of electric power assets

Record, a publication that is a benchmark in the

positions us differently in the generation segment. Most of

industry.

Odebrecht’s investment opportunities have resulted from thorough knowledge of two key variables: time and costs.

OI – Is Odebrecht Energia also focusing on international

And we have learned from our roots: providing excellent

investments?

engineering and construction services and meeting the

Valladares – Absolutely. We now have the installed capacity

Client’s needs. Moreover, long experience in financial

to be investors and operators both inside and outside Brazil.

engineering, especially

We have also applied this

in the form of project

capability in other promising

finance, also makes a

markets, such as Peru,

difference in our role as investors in electricity generation, particularly in greenfield projects. The drive to better serve their Clients has enabled our entrepreneur-partners to acquire a thorough knowledge of the value chain for the power generation business, which enables them to grow

“Odebrecht has a long track record in the energy area. And the fact that we have extensive experience in the construction of assets in that area is very important”

where we were awarded the Chaglla Hydroelectric Plant project, the second largest in the country, which broke ground in the first half of this year. That project represents an investment of USD 1.2 billion and marks the beginning of the performance of Odebrecht Energia as an investor and operator of power gene-

our holdings. So here we

ration assets outside

are, positioning ourselves

Brazil.

as investors, through the creation of Odebrecht Energia S.A., with operations in

OI – What about the Brazilian market? What is the

Brazil and other countries. It is important to point out

company doing to keep pace with the growth of

that our operations in the hydropower plant market have

investments in the energy sector?

also been a key factor for the Organization’s international

Valladares – For decades, investments in the energy

expansion.

sector were predominantly made by the Brazilian government. We’ve continued investing in power

OI – Why is that?

generation in the case of the Santo Antônio hydropower

Valladares – Dam construction has always been

plant on the Madeira River in Rondônia, where

an important vector for growth outside Brazil. Peru

Odebrecht is not only building the plant but Odebrecht

was the starting point of Odebrecht’s international

Energia has a significant stake in the investment and

expansion. We have been present in that country

management of the concession.

since 1979, starting with the Charcani V hydro in

26

Arequipa, built under the Misti volcano. Another

OI – Is Santo Antônio a milestone?

milestone in our internationalization process was

Valladares – It certainly is! We have adopted

Angola, where we arrived in 1984 to build the

the strategy of investing in inventories and feasibility


studies for hydropower projects, contributing to the

in professionals from other parts tends to have on a

development of industry while participating as investors

region. Today, 80% of the workforce at Santo Antônio

in auctions held by the Federal Government. And the

consists of locally hired skilled professionals, 10% of

biggest auction of all, without a doubt, was for the

whom are women, which represents a paradigm shift in

Madeira River Complex. Santo Antônio has cemented

the construction of hydroelectric dams in the Amazon

our role as investors in this sector. Since we were

region.

awarded the concession for the Santo Antônio plant, our view of the energy market is now primarily as an

OI – Does the company’s strategy include other sources

investor, without detriment to Odebrecht’s operations

of power?

as a provider of engineering and construction services,

Valladares – In addition to already counting on

as in Belo Monte and Teles Pires.

the generating assets of the Chaglla and Santo Antônio hydroelectric dams, we are also aware of the

OI – Santo Antônio, which is in the middle of the Amazon

opportunities afforded by a range of alternative sources

Basin, is a project that is now viewed a benchmark for

such as wind, biomass, small hydros and solar power.

inducing sustainable de-

Talking

velopment. Does this

power generation, the

provide more security

auction held in August

for investment? Valladares – It is no accident that we have achieved this level of trust and governance. The entire Santo Antônio venture is based on six years of studies conducted jointly by Furnas which

and

Odebrecht,

analyzed

the

social, economic and

“The fact that the greatest potential for hydropower generation in Brazil is located in the Amazon biome requires outstanding performance in social and environmental management”

about

wind

this year enabled us to deploy four wind farms in Rio Grande do Sul, totaling 116 MW. We also have 13 more farms (290 MW) on hand that are qualified to participate in upcoming auctions, as well as prospects for greenfield projects in the states of Bahia and Ceará. Furthermore, we

environmental aspects

are beginning to develop

of the project in depth.

other projects involving all kinds of alternative

The fact that the greatest potential for hydropower generation in this

energy sources. We want to have a very significant stake

country is located in the Amazon biome dictates the

in this segment.

need for outstanding performance in environmental management, ranging from project design to the

OI – What is your overall assessment of Odebrecht

implementation of programs to mitigate and offset the

Energia’s operations thus far?

environmental impacts of projects and promote the

Valladares – We are optimistic about business oppor-

development of the people living in the vicinity of the

tunities in Brazil and abroad. We are confident that Brazil’s

project. The best example is the Acreditar Professional

regulatory model will be increasingly attractive for private

Education Program, which was first introduced in

investors, and that we can help provide a safe, stable supply of

Santo Antônio and is now being deployed throughout

electricity, which is vital to our country’s development. We also

the Odebrecht Organization. The greatest legacy of this

hope to provide solutions that will enable Odebrecht Energia

program is the fact that more than 37,000 residents

to grow organically, consolidating a generating capacity that

of Porto Velho and the surrounding region now have

consists of additional sources of energy in Brazil and other

job skills that have created fresh prospects in their

countries, generating results for Clients, Shareholders, Or-

lives and minimized the negative impact that bringing

ganization members and society as a whole.

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27


28 The logistics of building the Teles Pires hydroelectric plant and forming the management team in a remote part of northern Brazil are a major challenge, overcome with innovation

Encountering

Brazil written by Rodrigo Vilar photos by Geraldo Pestalozzi

28

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I

n Salvador, Bahia, the work day began at dawn

travel over 95 km, about two and a half hours by dirt

for the Odebrecht Informa team reporting on the

road, to reach the construction site.”

magazine’s first feature story about the construc-

The long trek to the jobsite is just one of many chal-

tion of the Teles Pires Hydroelectric Plant, on the

lenges of carrying out a project for the Federal Govern-

border of the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and

ment’s Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), a hydro with

Pará. Our journey started with a flight to Cuiabá with

an installed capacity of 1,820 MW (megawatts) whose first

a stop in Brasilia. After arriving in the state capital of

generator unit will go online by 2014. The winner of the

Mato Grosso, we traveled for another hour and a half

power generation auction held by the National Electrical

on a smaller plane to the town of Alta Floresta. There,

Energy Agency (ANEEL) in December 2010, Companhia

we were met by a car the project’s management team

Hidrelétrica Teles Pires S/A, a Special Purpose Company

had sent to take us on the final 52 km stretch, half of it

formed by Neoenergia (50.1%), Eletrobras Furnas (24.5

on dirt roads, and we finally reached Paranaíta, a town

%), Eletrobras Eletrosul (24.5%) and Odebrecht Energia

of 7,000 that now houses the administrative base for the

(0.9%), is responsible for building and operating the plant.

project. It was late afternoon by the time we arrived at

Working under an EPC (engineering, procurement and

the head office, and during our first conversation, the

construction and installation) contract, Odebrecht is the

officer Responsible for Communication for the project,

company in charge of civil construction and installation for

Ana Paula Silvestre, advised us: “Tomorrow we have to

the project, which will create 6,000 direct job opportunities.

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29


The work order for installation of the jobsite was issued in August 2011, but planning and mobilization began much earlier. “On the Teles Pires project, I can safely say that from the beginning of the financial engineering for the project to the point where we are today, we have carried out every item planned,” explains Project Director Antonio Augusto Santos. Thanks to the joint efforts of the project’s teams, by October, 200 machines – out of a total 265 – were already available at the company’s yard in Paranaíta. The equipment, all brand new, came from Brazil, Sweden, Argentina, the United States and Germany, representing a direct

The Teles Pires River, where the plant will be built. Below, married couples working together on the project, and the heavy equipment that has already arrived at the jobsite: planning and creativity overcome isolation

investment of BRL 152.5 million from Odebrecht. “In addition to the logistical challenge, the booming in-

for the project. “There will be 6,000 people housed at the

frastructure sector, thanks to the [2014 FIFA] World Cup

permanent construction site. It’s a small city. We’re going

and major works in the energy sector, plus the overload

to build recreational areas such as parks and sidewalks,

faced by the nation’s seaports, made the entire process

and there will be green areas, gazebos, restaurants, a

very complicated. Our success was mainly due to the com-

beauty salon and other facilities. These measures are

petence of the teams that developed and carried out this

meant to be motivating, to enable people to live well, re-

plan,” says Antonio Augusto.

alize their potential and develop through work,” explains

According to Victor Carvalho Marques, the officer Responsible for Civil Works, Engineering and Equipment, the

Because the jobsite is so remote, recruiting strate-

decision to buy instead of rent was strategic. “You’re in a

gic team members was a major issue. Antonio Augusto

remote area with limited access, so bringing in used equip-

himself came up with one solution: “We worked to iden-

ment could cause serious problems in terms of mainte-

tify the skills and experience of the spouses of Ode-

nance and replacement. With new equipment, the possibil-

brecht members to match their expertise with the proj-

ity of achieving expected performance is much higher, and

ect’s needs and invite them to work here as a couple.”

the sheer magnitude of the Teles Pires project should use

Spouses do not work on the same programs to avoid

up almost half the lifetime of this machinery,” he explains.

any hitches in the assessment and development pro-

A small city at the jobsite One of the main challenges was to bring in the right equipment, and another was attracting the right people

30

Antonio Augusto.

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cess. Just counting the newlyweds, there are 12 married couples at the jobsite. On October 12, at the request of Odebrecht Informa, they all got together for dinner at the group’s favorite restaurant.


who were total strangers. Now, I’m living together with my wife in a hotel room. It’s wonderful,” he says. “There’s no comparison!” he adds, with a smile, hugging his wife Juliana. She agrees. “He is very organized, and that makes things easier for me. Being together is a motivating factor.” Civil engineer Luciane Daltro, 32, the officer Responsible for Costs, and her husband, Alessandro Peixoto, 30, a sanitation and environmental engineer who is working on the project’s Environment program, have always wanted to harmonize their professional and personal lives. They have been together for 10 years and married for three. Alessandro has worked in the Brazilian cities of Manaus, Belém and Belo

Coexistence and adaptation

Horizonte as well as in Argentina. Then, to top it off,

Juliana Lima, 30, who has been with the Organiza-

Luciane went to work for Odebrecht Angola in Africa

tion for a year and four months, is responsible for People

two years ago,.

and Organization at the Teles Pires Plant construction

“Now we have breakfast, lunch and dinner together.

project, which she joined at the feasibility study stage

Now we appreciate small details that we’ve never had

in November 2010. She was also one of the first people

the chance to experience together,” she says. Sitting

to arrive in Paranaíta in January 2011. For her, the big-

beside her, Alessandro notes that some colleagues

gest challenge in those early months was being far away

are still adapting to life in such a small town, which

from her family, especially her husband, Alberto Fraga,

comes naturally for him. However, he emphasizes

30, whom she married six months ago. “I was over the

that the important thing is to focus on the positive

moon when the opportunity arose for Alberto to come

side of this experience and the opportunities it offers.

here as well,” she says, unable to hide the twinkle in her

“This large gathering that you are seeing here today

eye. Alberto has a degree in fishing engineering and a

is normal for us. In our social lives, we might

specialization in Safety Engineering, and joined the team

want to get away from the difficulties of

in April. Since then, he has been Responsible for Left

the job, but not from the people

Bank Workplace Safety.

we work with. Bit by bit, we

Unlike other colleagues in the same situation, who preferred to rent houses while the residential village at the

are building one big family.”

jobsite is being built, the couple has been sharing a hotel room in the quiet town of Paranáita for the last three months. What might be hard for some is like shooting fish in a barrel for Alberto. “I spent a year and a half at sea on nine trips on fishing boats. I lived and worked alongside Chinese and Spanish people

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31


frien 32

32 informa


endly

winds

Odebrecht makes its debut in the wind power segment, a priority resource for Brazil

written by Cláudio Lovato Filho

B

razil wants to harness the winds that blow in its favor. And soon, because the pace and need for economic growth require it. Investments in wind power generation, among other re-

newable energy sources such as ethanol and biomass, will consolidate Brazil’s energy mix as the cleanest and one of the most diversified in the world. More options reduce the risk of dependence on a single source. The wise old saying that you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket is very apt in this case. The nation is preparing to establish wind farms

in several regions, especially the South and Northeast, where the winds have the most suitable characteristics for energy generation. The sight of row upon row of wind turbines will be increasingly common in this country. To help energize this Brazilian campaign to harness wind power, the Odebrecht Organization has made its debut in this segment through Odebrecht Energia, and Odebrecht Energias Alternativas, an alternative energy company

Odebrecht Archives

created by Odebrecht Energia, is responsible for wind power operations. “Brazil wants to expand its wind energy generation capacity from 1 gigawatt, recorded in 2010, to 11.5 gigawatts by 2020,” says Fernando Chein, the Director responsible for the Wind, Solar and

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33


SHP (small hydro) segment at Odebrecht Energia.

tion held on August 18, 2011. These farms include

“The country’s wind power potential is over 150

Corredor dos Senandes 2, 3 and 4 and the Vento

gigawatts according to today’s figures,” he adds.

Aragano 1. At the auction, Odebrecht sold 50.5

The goal of the Federal Government, set forth in

megawatts (MW) average at a rate of BRL 99.50 per

its Ten-Year Plan for Energy Expansion (PDE 2020),

MWh (megawatt/hour). To do so, it will have to in-

is to make renewable sources total 46.3% of the

stall 116.9 MW of total capacity in wind farms. The

energy mix by 2020. In 2010, that percentage was

contract signed with the CCEE (Chamber of Elec-

44.8%, behind oil and petroleum derivatives.

tric Energy Sales) is for 20 years. The wind farms will be established as of June 2012. Initial genera-

Future production

34

tion is expected to begin by June 2014.

As the owner of the Corredor dos Senandes

At the moment, the company is covering several

Complex project in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul,

fronts at once under the direct leadership of Walter

Odebrecht Energia sold future energy production

Tatoni, the officer Responsible for Wind Energy In-

from four wind farms at the Federal Reserve Auc-

vestments at Odebrecht Energia: obtaining permis-

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Illustration

sion for exploration from the grantor, consolidation of all documentation necessary to obtain the permits required for the deployment of wind farms (particularly environmental permits), forming and grooming the management team and setting up the farms, awarding contracts for goods and services, includ-

Photo: Eduardo Beleske

This montage shows what Odebrecht’s wind farms in Rio Grande will look like. Smaller photo: Mayor Fábio Branco: “We need to make the most of our resources as soon as possible”

ing wind turbines supplied by Alstom (the company responsible for the manufacturing, operations and maintenance of turbines), and seeking approval of funding from BNDES, Brazil’s national socioeconomic development bank. “In its role as an investor, operator and seller of energy, Odebrecht Energia wants to reach 10,000 MW of own generation by 2020,” says Wal-

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35


Photo: Márcio Lima

Alstom’s new factory in Camaçari: investing in technology to develop wind turbines

ter. “Wind energy will provide a major boost to

should only compete with each other.” Today, the

achieve this goal.”

auctions cover all energy sources, and a momen-

The company’s specific expertise and knowledge

tary price advantage for one source over another

related to wind power is a result of the immer-

(or others) could harm one of them and, conse-

sion of its members in this new world, and their

quently, its supply chain.

experience in other segments of the energy secsays Marco Rabello, CFO of Odebrecht Energia. “It

Seventy turbines on four wind farms

has its own unique characteristics,” he explains,

The four wind farms whose energy was sold at

referring to the wind power industry. They include

auction on August 18 will receive a total of 70 wind

new requirements for documents and wind mea-

turbines manufactured by Alstom at its factory in

surement, which are key to determining whether a

the Camaçari Industrial Complex in Bahia, which

business is viable or not.

began operations in the second half of 2011. The

tor. “We’ve been studying this area for over a year,”

36

Fernando Chein is very pleased with the present

turbines will be 95 m high, and the blades will be

stage of the stimulus program for alternative en-

86 m in diameter. Their generating power per unit

ergy sources, particularly wind, but has one caveat:

will be 1.67 MW.

“I believe that auctions should be held for specific

The Corredor dos Senandes Complex contains

sources or regions, so that they can balance the

a total of seven wind farms and has a generating

energy mix. We should encourage investments in

potential of 175 MW. In addition to the four farms

all sources. Competition among them may not be

whose electricity has already been sold, the com-

beneficial in the long term. These sources need to

pany plans to establish three more: Corredor dos

be complementary.” Marco Rabello adds: “Wind farms

Senandes 1, Vento Aragano 3 and Capão Grande.

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bition is to become the company’s partner in all phases of these projects, from the location of wind farms to supply,” says Marcos Costa, Alstom’s Vice President for Power in Latin America. The wind turbine factory recently opened by Alstom, a longstanding Odebrecht partner for projects in the energy sector, is ready to make equipment capable of generating up to 300 MW/year. “The Brazilian government has prioritized wind power, and Alstom wants to be a part of that effort. We have built a factory in Camaçari for that purpose.” Marcos Costa also observes that his company is currently developing a new wind turbine specifically for Latin America and Brazil: ECO 122, with a 122-m diameter propeller and power of 2.7 MW. “ECO 122 is 100% suitable for Brazilian winds,” he says.

“We want to harness our potential” These constantly evolving turbines will soon begin to occupy rural areas of Rio Grande, in the southern part of Rio Grande do Sul. A city whose development is historically linked to its seaport – which is once again receiving substantial investments to increase its capacity to move cargo and But that’s not all. In Rio Grande do Sul, Odebrecht Energia also intends to develop the Povo

host major maritime projects – its economy will also get a significant boost from wind farms.

Novo Wind Complex, formed by the wind farms

Mayor Fábio Branco emphasizes that the aim is

of Porto Novo (7.5 MW), Fazenda Veracruz (22.5

to diversify the city’s economic activities by mak-

MW) and Curupira (25 MW), located about 40 km

ing the most of its natural advantages. “We want to

from the Corredor dos Senandes Complex. And the

harness our potential,” he says. “For Rio Grande,

company’s investments are not restricted to the

the deployment of wind farms is a watershed. It

South of Brazil. In the northeastern state of Ceará,

will mean a paradigm shift and will have a positive

the company acquired the Aracati Mutamba Wind

impact on our entire supply chain,” he predicts.

Complex project in August 2011, comprised of 10

This is because the arrival of the companies in-

wind farms with a capacity of 240 MW. In addition,

volved in these projects will provide direct and in-

there are plans to invest in greenfield projects in

direct work opportunities, increasing employment

Bahia.

and income levels and providing more possibilities

“Brazil has excellent winds,” says Fernando

for academic institutions. “As the government, we

Chein. “In the Northeast, they are very strong,

want to be facilitators of the process of install-

but more variable. In the South, the winds are

ing wind farms. We have an excellent relationship

less intense but they’re steady.” The develop-

with the private sector, represented in this case by

ment of specific technologies by manufacturers

Odebrecht, a company that is committed to its lo-

ensures the best possible use of different types

cal communities.” Fábio Branco clearly has high

of wind.

hopes. “We need to make the most of our resourc-

“We are honored to be the first supplier for Odebrecht Energia’s wind power segment. Our am-

es as soon as possible. Today’s winds will never blow here again.”

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37


to living

Angola invests heavily in taking electricity to its people in several parts of the country 38

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38


ng room

From power plant written by Jo達o Marcondes photos by Guilherme Afonso

Lopes Sebasti達o (background, left) and his family: more comfortable times informa informa

39


S

ebastião Lopes has had several “rebirths” in his lifetime. In the 1940s, he earned a living as a farm worker, digging the soil with his own hands in the province of Uige in northern Angola,

still a little-urbanized area near the border with Congo. After 10 or 12 hours in the fields, he would take some firewood home. Firewood was synonymous with energy in those days. Time passed and in the following decades Lopes began using oil lamps. They only provided enough dim light to ward off the threatening noises in the night. The world around him also changed. In the mid-1970s, Angola became independent, but energy was still scarce. At the end of the last century, Lopes started using a more powerful energy source: a noisy and expensive generator that blackened his mud house with soot and spat smoke in the eyes of his wife, children and grandchildren. For eight years now, the armed conflicts in Angola have been a thing of the past, and 2012 will be special, due to the direct presidential elections. Before

“The Government is planning specific programs

going out to cast his vote, Lopes will be able to take a

to extend electrification to urban, peri-urban and ru-

hot shower and put on his best suit. What has really

ral areas of the country on a massive scale. We are

revolutionized the life of this resident of the village of

also giving our full support for this initiative,” says

Negage was a click. A switch. Pure energy, electricity.

Wagner Santana, the Project Director for Transmis-

Now he has a deep-freeze, so food stays fresh longer,

sion Lines.

and his family, starting with his wife, Luiza Lando, is enjoying a more comfortable way of life.

Energy is a priority in Angola. Only 30% of its people have access to electricity today. The nation’s estimated population totals 20 million people, and it cur-

40

Dynamo

rently produces 1,300 MW of power (50% thermal and

In order for electricity to reach the homes of Lopes

50% hydroelectric). The demand is for 4,000 MW (just

and thousands of other people like him, Odebrecht has

for consumers, not counting industry). “Angola may

built the 220 kV (kilovolt) Energy Transportation System

even become an exporter of electricity in Southern

linking the Capanda hydroelectric plant to the province

Africa,” says Carlos Mathias, Director of Odebrecht

of Uige, covering a total of 270 km. The Capanda hydro

Angola. “We also want to act as investors, through

was Odebrecht’s first project in that country, begun in

public-private partnerships.”

the 1980s, but the company did not stop at building pow-

The Angolan Minister of Water and Power, Emanu-

er plants. Getting energy to consumers is just as impor-

ela Vieira Lopes, said recently in the Angolan publica-

tant as making turbines spin, so Odebrecht has installed

tion Estratégia: “We intend to grow the energy sector

a total of 800 km of transmission lines to date. Besides

so that the population enjoys wellbeing and there is

Capanda-Uige, which benefited the Lopes family, an-

economic growth. By 2017, Angola should have the

other recently completed project is the 300-km trans-

capacity to produce energy, meet its domestic de-

mission line (400 kV) linking Capanda and the Luanda

mand and start exporting to other countries.” Ode-

metropolitan region. In addition to these lines and sub-

brecht is playing a leading role in this effort. In addi-

stations, the company has electrified six cities between

tion to installing transmission lines and building the

Capanda and Uige, benefiting over 5,000 families. But

iconic Capanda plant, the company is helping build

this is just a small sample of what needs to be done.

and refurbish two structures that are key to develop-

informa


Fernando Neves in Cambambe: witnessing Angola’s growth

ing the capacity Minister Vieira Lopes mentioned: the

times of war, the plant’s energy production was af-

Gove and Cambambe hydroelectric plants.

fected and its capacity fell to just 90 MW. But all that changed when Odebrecht resumed

El Dorado

work on the expansion project in 2005. When com-

“El Dorado” or “the Golden One.” A legendary

pleted, the new Cambambe dam will generate up to

place of great wealth (gold and silver) relentlessly

960 MW of power. The project is complex: it involves

pursued by the Spanish colonizers of the Americas

the restoration of Plant no. 1, which will have 260 MW

in the 16th century. Africa also had its El Dorado,

of power, and the construction of Plant no. 2, with a

pursued by the Portuguese in the 1500s right here

capacity of 700 MW. It also includes increasing the

in Angola, more precisely in the Cambambe Moun-

height of the dam, which will rise by another 30 m,

tains. It was believed that the region contained vast

and building a lateral spillway to protect the dam in

mineral wealth, ever since King Manuel I of Por-

the rainy season. “We will produce renewable energy

tugal received a silver bracelet as a gift from the

for about 8 million people with a hydroelectric project

King of Congo. The Portuguese sovereign was also

that has been central to the history of Angola and is

informed that that piece of jewelry had come from

essential for its future,” stresses Gustavo Belitardo,

the Cambambe region, 200 km from where Luanda

Project Director for Cambambe.

stands today.

Cambambe will be one of the largest hydroelectric

Expeditions were sent out in search of silver, the

projects in Angola. Construction should be fully com-

first one headed by Manuel Pacheco and Baltazar de

pleted by 2015. However, one man has been there since

Castro in 1520. The silver was never found, but they

its inception back in 1950. His name is Fernando Pe-

explored the Kwanza River, the largest in the coun-

dro Santos Neves, 60. He has seen Portuguese, French,

try, as far as a narrow gorge. A perfect place to build

Swiss people come and go. He has watched his co-

a dam. And the Portuguese themselves did just that

workers battle diseases like malaria, cholera and yellow

in 1950. The 180-MW Cambambe hydroelectric plant

fever (his father worked as a nurse on the project). He

became an important source of energy for the coun-

has also witnessed conflicts in his country.

try, but its expansion (also by the Portuguese) was

The work started, stopped, and got going again.

never completed. Due to irregular maintenance in

Fernando Neves guarantees that at no time did he

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41


think that the initial project, which already included

workers learn job skills. The Odebrecht teams have

the two plants, would never be completed. He used

also developed programs to combat HIV/AIDS and

to work as an electrician at the water treatment sta-

ensure safe childbirths, and especially to encourage

tion, in the administrative sector. In the 1980s, he saw

children to stay in school. In 2008 there were 80 work-

the construction of Capanda and foresaw a future for

ers from the commune working on the project, and

Cambambe. Now retired, but the owner of a firm that

today that number has grown to 500, which corre-

still provides services for the project, Fernando looks back on the full cycle. “The feeling I have after all these years is that I’m seeing my country grow.” The country will grow, and so will the exploitation of the hydroelectric potential of the Kwanza River, which is 960 km long. In its waters, two major projects are awaiting tenders: the prodigious Laúca (2,067 MW) and Caculo-Cabaça (2,053 MW) dams.

Gove While there is still much work to be done at Cambambe, another Angolan project is almost ready: the rehabilitation of the Gove dam and the construction of the 60 MW hydroelectric plant of the same name, in the Cuíma commune in Huambo province. Civil construction and electromechanical assembly are nearing completion. Expectations are that this project will be delivered by June 2012, and the first unit will begin generating power by the end of the March of that year. The energy Gove produces will supply the provinces of Huambo (120 km from Gove) and Bie (230 km away), serving approximately 3 million people. The Gove project has a special history. Begun in the 1960s, it was the first dam on the Cunene and was responsible for the regulation of that river so that other hydroelectric plants and agricultural projects could be deployed downstream. In the 90s, the dam was sabotaged, almost ruining its structure. In 2008, Odebrecht started rehabilitating the partially destroyed dam and building the powerhouse and substation. Due to years of armed conflict, the region is underdeveloped, but the arrival and development of this project is changing all that. “When we got here, we couldn’t hire most of the local workforce because the people were still frightened and didn’t have the skills to work on this kind of project – they are humble people, fishermen, small farmers, but willing to learn and develop,” says Project Director Marcus Azeredo. When the right conditions were in place, the “I Learned at Gove” project was born, through which

42

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sponds to 62% of the current workforce. Now, thanks

tion of the Cunene River Hydroelectric Basin (Gabhic)

to the number of people at work on the project, the

of the Ministry of Energy and Water (Minea) – have

village of Gove is preparing to become a small town,

shown how a project can energize and empower a

a municipality. More than just bringing electricity, the

community.

measures Odebrecht has taken in Gove, in conjunc-

Lopes, whose story we told at the beginning of

tion with the client – the Office for the Administra-

this report, has directly benefited from Odebrecht’s work. His neighbor in Negage, a civil servant named Daniel Neto, remembers the day (December 15, 2010) when electric lights first came on in the unpaved street where they live. “It was a great feeling. You know what’s even more amazing? Most people there had never seen that kind of light, so bright and powerful. Others had only seen it in Luanda,” he says. “The kids couldn’t stop crying and cheering.” One of humankind’s most popular forms of en-

Installing a turbine at the Gove hydroelectric plant: energy for 3 million people

tertainment, commonplace for many, is now part of the residents’ lives: watching TV. Fatima, 12, Daniel’s daughter, does not miss a single episode of the Brazilian soap India – A Love Story. Her father likes it too, although he thinks soap operas are for kids. Fatima enjoys watching TV, but is quick to conclude why having electricity is so important. “Now I can study at night, and have a future. A better future for me and Angola. Through light.”

Grooming and educating people As always on Odebrecht projects, these construction works are not just about physical structures but also about human beings. They are providing more than 1,500 direct job opportunities, as well as skills taught through the Acreditar Ongoing Professional Qualification Program. Odebrecht projects employ about 17,000 members across the country, 93% of whom are Angolans. During a recent visit to Angola, when he attended President Roussef’s speech before the National Assembly, Marcelo Odebrecht, President and CEO of Odebrecht S.A., observed: “When a Brazilian company comes here, it hires local workers and develops the supply chain. In our projects, we bring Brazilians over to deploy our entrepreneurial culture, but as this process moves ahead, we come to rely solely on the Angolans.” An important part of the transmission line project, for example, was educating Angolan workers from the National Power Company (ENE) to operate the substations.

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43


44

market

Getting coal to

written by Jo達o Marcondes photos by Guilherme Afonso

44

informa


The Moatize mine in the interior of Mozambique: one of the largest in Africa

In Mozambique, the main challenges surrounding a key product for the nation’s economy are logistical and technological informa

45


I

n August 2011, train cars loaded with coal fol-

Relocating homes

lowed the path of the Sena-Beira railway line

The concession for the Moatize mine in the district

in Mozambique. The trains belong to Vale, the

of Moatize, in Tete province, covers a 24,000-hectare

Brazilian mining company, and each was loaded

area. One major challenge was relocating the homes

with 35,000 tonnes of product. After arriving in

of a thousand families. The alliance has built two

the port city of Beira, the coal was loaded onto a ship

settlements containing nearly a thousand homes,

and exported to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.

schools, open-air markets, parks, farms and pas-

At first glance, this seems like a simple itinerary.

tures. Mozambicans have access to a varied range of

However, the logistics behind it required sophisticated

social projects developed by Odebrecht International

work from the engineering standpoint. “What we’re

and Vale: campaigns to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria pre-

doing here can be considered the state of the art in

vention, job training, environmental education, health

technology,” observes Vale Production Director Paulo

programs and digital inclusion.

Horta.

One of the most significant initiatives is the Read+

Tete is a city deep in the heart of Mozambique

program, led by Claudia Andrade, Head of Social Pro-

where Vale has obtained the rights to develop one

grams, and Social Projects Analyst José Piquitai, a

of the largest coal mines in Africa for 35 years (from

Mozambican member of Odebrecht International who

2007). This is not ordinary coal, but coking coal used

has extensive experience with NGOs in his country.

in the steel industry. It is more valuable and rare than

Developed by Odebrecht and Vale, this program has

thermal coal. The mine’s current capacity is 11 mil-

introduced a powerful new tool for more than 1,000

lion tonnes of both kinds of coal (75% coking and 25%

children between the ages of 8 and 12: reading (and

thermal) per year, but expectations are that its pro-

consequently writing).

duction will double.

“This is a community where the oral tradition is

Odebrecht International is the main contractor

very strong, but it is not the custom to keep written

building the civil works for the coal mine, as well as

records. And we are speaking of a country that has

the port through which the product will be exported. At

experienced many historic events in the recent past,”

the Moatize mine, the company is part of an alliance

says Piquitai. Mozambique gained its independence

in which it has a 75% stake (Camargo Correa has a

from Portugal in 1975 and then went through a civil

25% stake). At the temporary Pier 8 terminal project in

war that lasted until 1992. “There are many unwritten

the Port of Beira, Odebrecht International is the sole

stories here, but that will change. We intend to turn

contractor.

Moatize into a cultural hub. And one of the first stories

The numbers for the construction works begun in 2008 are impressive: 130,000 m3 of concrete, 535,000

to be told will be the trajectory of coal. That will be recorded,” he says with pride.

machine hours worked, and 140 km of pipelines (for the mine alone). Odebrecht International’s Project Director, Paulo Brito, highlights the synergy among the companies involved. “We have become a model for this alliance for Vale, which fosters a positive atmosphere for new businesses and partnerships,” he notes, while stressing the benefits for Mozambique: “There has been tremendous job creation associated with a significant increase in consumption.” Osvaldo Adachi, Vale’s General Construction Manager, adds: “According to the local authorities, electricity consumption has grown by 90% in Tete. This is a city that had almost been abandoned, and now several markets and hotels have been built, and the car fleet has grown by leaps and bounds.”

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informa

The Pier 8 terminal will be capable of exporting 6 million tonnes per year


cause the port of Beira is shallow,” explains Vale Construction Manager Francisco Bender. The client for this project is the state rail company Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique – CFM. Vale will be entitled to use the port, under specific terms. CFM José Piquitai: oral tradition

required that the entire structure of the old terminal be dismantled and stored for recycling or reuse on other projects. It was a huge job that began in October 2010, when the construction project started, and ended in late November. It included dismantling 60 old train cars that

Pier 8

had been corroded by time and the weather. “It was a

Once it is shipped from the mine, the coal goes on a

painstaking effort,” says Production Manager Mário Pel-

600-km journey from Moatize to Beira, one of the larg-

icano. “Our operation involved relationships with several

est cities in the country, with about 200,000 inhabit-

local suppliers.”

ants. The Pier 8 project is complex because it involves

The workdays were hectic in Beira, with its magnifi-

a railway line and a port. It has to be built in record

cent views of the Indian Ocean (hence its tremendous

time to be ready by the end of this year. Nevertheless,

capacity to export goods to Asia, a booming market).

it has already made it possible to dispatch the first

Odebrecht International sent its quality of life and so-

shipment of coal, which was loaded onto a ship for ex-

cial projects team to the city, led by Cíntia Santana.

port. The second shipment is scheduled for November

Among other initiatives, she focused on the Young

2011. “We don’t have much time. We have less than

Partner Program, which included young professionals

a year to finish the job, because coal is already being

like Paulo Jonatan Guesela Mata, 22, who graduated

mined in Tete,” says Odebrecht International Project

in Public Administration in June this year.

Director Nuno Teixeira, a Portuguese national.

“Anyone looking at this from the outside would not

The Pier 8 terminal will be able to export 6 million

believe that the work of so many different people could

tonnes of product per year. The project involves the con-

produce a single outcome,” says Paulo Jonatan, refer-

struction of rail yards for 600-m trains with 42 cars, coal

ring to the Babel of nationalities at the jobsite. There

storage systems and internal transport (with a storage

are Filipinos, Colombians, South Africans, Ecuador-

capacity of up to 300,000 t) and the pier itself, through

ians, and, of course, Brazilians, Portuguese and Mo-

which the product will be shipped and exported. “After

zambicans working there. “I didn’t think a project in-

that, we do a transshipment operation (transferring the

volving people from so many different countries could

cargo from one ship to another) on the high seas, be-

go this smoothly.”

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47


expectati A long-awaited day fulfills great

written by Emanuela Sombra photos by Carlos JĂşnior

Dilma Marçal: in September, the joy of flicking a switch and seeing a light go on

48

48

informa


ions

Partes antes inĂşteis do gado abatido sĂŁo aproveitadas por um biodigestor instalado em um matadouro no

The Light for All Program takes electricity to people who texto R once depended on candles, oil lamps and diesel generators

enata

Meyer

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49


T

he rural area of Jequitaí, 400 km from

oil lamps and diesel generators to light their homes. In

Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil: sur-

Minas Gerais, the Federal program has partnered with

rounded by eucalyptus plantations, Dilma

the State Government to install a network that will cover

Marçal lives on a small farm where she

a total of 85,500 km. The amount of cable used is enough

raises cattle and makes cheese for sale.

to go around the Earth 2.5 times.

The symmetrically planted trees turn her home into a

Converted into the number of beneficiary families,

distant spot in the middle of a huge maze where elec-

that impressive mileage takes on social contours: fol-

tricity arrived not long ago. There are no shops, paved

lowing the completion of the third stage of the pro-

roads or traffic noise. There are no neighbors.

gram in February 2012, more than 285,000 new elec-

For 33 years, the farmer has lived in her rustic three-

tricity connections have been made in Minas Gerais. In

room home with the basic necessities: a wood stove, a

the third stage, the Consórcio Luz para Minas – a joint

bed, wooden benches, a crank grinder and books on the

venture led by Odebrecht Infraestrutura – is respon-

shelf. In September, she had the pleasure of flicking a

sible for tackling the challenge of increasing “energy

switch and seeing a light go on in her kitchen where a

inclusion” and improving the quality of life of Minas

gas lamp had hung before. At the age of 55, she is now

Gerais residents.

considering whether to buy a TV, electric showerhead,

Odebrecht has been helping make this dream come

refrigerator and stereo for the very first time. “Second-

true since the first stage of the program began in 2005.

hand, of course.”

“Instead of working on a single construction site, we

Now that electricity has arrived, the farmer’s greatest

have teams spread across an entire state,” says José

joy is not being able to watch the soaps or store food in

Eduardo de Sousa Quintella, the Project Director at Luz

the freezer. Not at all. “My greatest pleasure is charging

para Minas.

my cell phone. I was fed up with having to go into town to

The challenge the teams are facing begins with the

do it,” she says, smiling and pointing to the light switch

identification of future beneficiaries: homes, churches,

in her living room. Cell phone service had reached the

schools, businesses and community centers located in

farmer’s house before electric lights did.

rural areas. After they have registered future users, a logistical study is carried out in the areas to be served.

Light for Minas Gerais

If the terrain is mountainous or steep, the materials are

Lives like hers have been transformed in the far-

transported by ox cart instead of by car or truck. In these

thest corners of rural Minas Gerais, through the work

situations, wooden poles usually replace concrete ones

of teams from the Light for All program, which is taking

due to the topography in the region.

electricity to people who once could only rely on candles,

In all these situations, the teams view these challenges enthusiastically. “Our job is not to put a power pole near a person. It is to install the pole, go into their house, and install lights and outlets,” says Quintella, who is visibly moved when he recalls seeing families use a blender or stereo for the first time.

The radio keeps him company Raimundo da Costa is one of those people. The 71-year-old pensioner remembers exactly which appliance he plugged in first four months ago, when the joint venture’s teams arrived at his small farm in Montes Claros: a radio. “I love listening to the news, comedy shows and music,” he says as he puts a CD of country music on the stereo. A study conducted by the Ministry of Mines and EnRaimundo Costa: “I love listening to the news”

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ergy shows that stereos are the third most popular elec-


Light for All program workers in Minas Gerais: installing a 85,500 km network

tronic items purchased by residents of rural areas that

Federal University at Vale do Jequitinhonha, the family

now have power in their homes - 45.4% of families buy

moved from Greater Belo Horizonte to rural Diaman-

them as soon as they get electricity. They come behind

tina. “It was tough at first. We knew the program would

two other electric appliances that are very common in

get here eventually, but we spent a few months in the

most Brazilian homes: TV sets (79.3%) and refrigerators

dark until the installation team arrived. I have asthma,

(73.3%).

and had to go in to town to use the nebulizer.”

Ricardo Charbel, the Superintendent for Planning,

Sara is celebrating three months with electric power

Research and Projection at Companhia Energetica de

at home. Now they can use electronic items brought in

Minas Gerais (Cemig), the state power company, has

from the state capital – a washing machine, computer,

been closely monitoring the project and is also moved

microwave and electric showerhead, all commonly

by the dramatic change it is making in people’s lives.

found in middle-class homes. “We used to have a good

He remembers the pensioner who started seeing more

standard of living, and spending time with no electricity

of his grandchildren after buying a television set, the

at all made us realize that the smallest things can give

housewife who started going to night school, the women

us pleasure. After Light for All, logging onto the internet

who started a sewing cooperative, and more. “One man

or watching a movie takes on a whole new meaning.”

told me how hard it was to make a purchase because he

In Minas Gerais, the program’s name is taken to

didn’t have a delivery address. Thanks to the light bill, he

heart. Although, according to national statistics, 90% of

now has proof of address,” he recalls.

the families served are low-income households earn-

According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the

ing less than three minimum monthly salaries, Light for

arrival of electricity makes it easier to consolidate so-

All does not discriminate between rich and poor com-

cial programs and provides access to basic sanitation,

munities. In the third stage alone, 544 Minas Gerais

health services and education. Another positive impact

municipalities are being been served simultaneously.

of the program is containing the rural exodus: since the

“Odebrecht is playing a very important role in imple-

implementation of the program began, 4.8% of Brazilian

menting the Light for All program. We have carried out

families have moved to rural areas served by Light for All.

the largest rural electrification program in the history

This was the case with housewife Sara da Fonseca.

of our company in record time,” says Djalma Bastos de

After her eldest son passed the entrance exam at the

Morais, President of Cemig.

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51


Powered by

livestoc 52 Mayor Julio Romano and slaughterhouse workers: biodigester energizes La Candelaria’s economy

52

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ock written by Luiz Carlos Ramos photos by Holanda Cavalcanti

O

ne of the largest producers and exporters of beef in the world, Argentina is witnessing the transformation into energy of parts of cattle once considered useless. The economy

of La Candelaria, a village in the province of Salta, near the Andes mountains and close to the borders with Chile and Bolivia, revolves around livestock. The herds of small farmers provide milk and meat. What is more, the bones of each slaughtered animal are used for fertilizer; the horns, for crafts, and leather for shoes, handbags, clothes and carpets. In this quiet corner of the country, which is home to 2,000 inhabitants, the most recent innovation is that the cattle’s blood and offal are now being utilized as well. Instead of being discarded, they are fed into a biodigester and converted into gas, generating energy for a boiler to heat water for the slaughterhouse and saving electricity without harming the environment. A pipeline that Odebrecht has installed in Argentina runs through La Candelaria. It is part of the network that crosses the country from north to south, and west to east. The compressor unit for the northern section was installed a few miles from town. To help the community, Odebrecht formed a working group to install a 30 m3 biodigester – a mini-biogas plant. The idea was approved, and they just needed to decide on the location. They chose the municipal slaughterhouse, where conditions were very poor, which set a further challenge. “Previously, hygiene and working conditions at the slaughterhouse were limited,” says the newly

A biodigester installed in a slaughterhouse in the Argentine village of La Candelaria uses parts of slaughtered cattle that once went to waste

re-elected Mayor of La Candelaria, Julio Romano, 40, who has been in office for four years. He says: “Thanks to the renovation of the premises and the installation of the biodigester, it is now cleaner, more efficient, and safer.” In June this year, the new era for the slaughterhouse got underway in the presence of Salta Governor Juan Manuel Urtuvey.

Veterinary inspection The abattoir operates two days a week, slaughtering an average of 15 heads of cattle per day. That number will increase as livestock production grows in the region to supply some of the butchers in southern Salta and the northern part of neighbor-

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53


ing Tucuman province. “For the full package, a fee

and offal would be more useful. So, we negotiated

of 40 pesos (USD 20.00) is charged to the owner of

with the mayor and partner companies.”

each animal slaughtered,” says Manager Alejandro Melián: “This price includes cleaning the carcass,

Young environmental engineers

which is stored for 24 hours in a cold room before

One of those partners is IBS Córdoba, which

going on to the consumer. Soon it will also be pos-

has assigned three young Argentine environmen-

sible to slaughter goats, lambs and piglets from

tal engineering specialists – Tomás Portela and

this region as well.”

Lucas Carissimi, both 27, and Luz María Tebaldi,

Damián Leal, Ruben Dario Aguilera and Luis

29 – to supervise the installation of the biodigest-

Jurado, members of the slaughterhouse staff,

er in La Candelaria. “The slaughterhouse really

agree on the benefits of the refurbishing project.

needed a complete overhaul,” argues Tomás. “Af-

“Thanks to the biodigester we can heat water to

ter six months of work earlier this year, every-

clean the building and shower after work,” says

thing was ready,” says Lucas. Luz observes that

Damián. “The water used to be cold,” recalls Ru-

they put together an Operating Manual for the

ben Dario. “Now there are no more bad smells

Biodigester, which they delivered to the mayor

like we had when cattle waste was burned here,”

and employees of the slaughterhouse. IBS is cel-

says Luis. The veterinarian Martin Syan travels

ebrating the news that companies in Panama and

from San Miguel de Tucumán to La Candelaria

Costa Rica have expressed interest in deploying

to inspect the animals on slaughter days. He

this system in Central America.

reports: “The site has improved a lot. It is more

The process in La Candelaria was supported by an

hygienic thanks to the new floor and biodigester.

Argentine government agency, the National Agricul-

The animals are now slaughtered with the help

tural Technology Institute (INTA), of which Alejandro

of an electric shock to the head, putting an end

Saavedra, an expert on alternative technologies, is a

to the suffering caused by the old system using

member. “We followed of every step of the project and

knives.”

concluded that it is bringing benefits for livestock pro-

Maurício Barbosa Peres, the Odebrecht Man-

duction, generating clean energy and making it possi-

ager for Administration and Finance on the pipe-

ble to use cattle byproducts as a form of biofertilizer.”

line expansion project, recalls the work the com-

Marina Gonzalez Ugarte, who supervises Ode-

pany has done in recent years to install pipelines,

brecht’s social and sustainability programs in Ar-

building compressors along the lines and support-

gentina, made several trips from Buenos Aires to

ing communities: “In 2008 we had the idea of in-

La Candelaria to take part in the biodigester proj-

stalling a biodigester in a local town. After study-

ect. In October, she attended a luncheon offered

ing the matter, we decided on the slaughterhouse

to the visitors by Mayor Julio Romano and his wife,

in La Candelaria.” The current amount of gas the

Maxima, and saw the town’s enthusiasm with the

biodigester produces is minimal compared to the

changes that have come about in recent months.

vast network that supplies the country, but it sets

“The community is thrilled. Now they can invest

an example for other slaughterhouses in South

more and improve their quality of life,” says Marina.

America: “It is a means of generating energy and preserving the environment.”

54

Mayor Romano, a small farmer, takes the achievements brought about by the biodigester

Guillermo Flanigan, an Argentine national from

into account and is already envisioning other

Buenos Aires, is Responsible for Administration at

ways of creating jobs in La Candelaria. “We have

Odebrecht for the pipeline expansion project. He

great weather, beautiful scenery, excellent wine

explains: “In La Candelaria, we first thought of in-

and a rich cuisine. We can attract more visitors

stalling the biodigester in the town school, but the

from Argentina and abroad. Italian businessmen

experts concluded that the slaughterhouse would

have made investments here, like Estancia El

be the ideal location because we would have prod-

Milagro, a rural hotel which has been refurbished

ucts that could be converted into gas. The blood

and has already hosted European visitors.”

informa


The view up

Ensenada: the work is done while the YPF refinery is fully operational

high written by Luiz Carlos Ramos photos by Holanda Cavalcanti

Expanding the production capacity of the YPF petrochemical plant in La Plata gives a major boost to the current phase of economic growth in Argentina informa

55


T

he current cycle of economic development in Argentina will get a significant boost as of August 2012: the expansion of production at a major petrochemical company in that country, which will

increase its gas processing capacity by up to 60%. It will also produce an aromatic compound (BTX), thereby energizing the production of high quality gasoline. The project, carried out by Odebrecht for the former Argentine state company YPF (Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales) in the town of Ensenada, in the La Plata metropolitan area, is in its final stages. This is the first continuous catalytic reforming unit (CCR) installed in Argentina, a modern new facility built inside YPF’s original installations.

Odebrecht Informa visited Ensenada and witnessed the driving energy of a project that is going on without affecting the petrochemical complex’s current production. Hundreds of workers from Argentina, Brazil and other South American countries are converting sectors, building towers and installing massive pipelines in a revolution symbolized by the new 115 m high torch that will operate 1,300 meters from the old one, which will be disabled. The torch is used to burn off gas that has no commercial value. Project Director Carlos Alberto Coutinho confirms the fast pace and explains: “In order to prepare the connection between the old and new sectors, we carried out a technical shutdown in four units for 30 days from mid-May through mid-June, and everything went well. This project is part of an effort to increase fuel production and thereby meet the growing demand for a country that is experiencing major

A multinational environment: workers from Argentina, Brazil and other South American countries are taking part in this project

economic development.” YPF is a subsidiary of the Spanish Repsol Group,

56

which owns a 57.43% stake in the company. Since

The heart of the unit

2008 it has been run by Petersen, an Argentine group

Argentine civil engineer Pablo Brottier, from Ode-

owned by the Eskenazi family, which holds 25.46%

brecht, is Responsible for New Business on the team

of its shares, in addition to being responsible for its

of the Odebrecht CEO for Argentina, Flávio Faria. Un-

management, with the 17% remaining shares listed

til August 2011, Brottier was the Director of the proj-

on the Stock Exchange. The project being carried out

ect underway in Ensenada. He says the CCR and the

at YPF in Ensenada is based on three steps: first,

new facilities under construction can be described as

through the CCR, it can increase production of gaso-

the “heart” of the virgin naphtha processing unit, which

line; the second step is to adapt the current facilities,

produces aromatic compounds.

and the third involves the interconnection of the new

“Currently, the petrochemical plant needs to carry

facilities with the old. “The result will be a cutting-

out a technical shutdown every year to refurbish the

edge petrochemical plant,” says Coutinho.

catalyst,” says Brottier. “However, by using the con-

informa


tinuous catalyst regeneration process, this new unit

one of the challenges that he and his team faced was

will extend the operating cycle to four years. There-

the fact that the work would be done in a limited physi-

fore, the equipment will not lose money. Increased

cal space while the petrochemical plant was fully op-

production of 60% is based on this benefit and the

erational. “We completed important steps through cre-

modernization of the entire Ensenada complex.” He

ative and safe solutions,” recalls Trouet, a graduate of

points out that the technical shutdown carried out

the Odebrecht Organization’s Program for Developing

to adapt the complex involved four huge cranes, 26

Entrepreneurs (PDE) in 2009. The new refinery equip-

new machines, six processing towers, 76 tonnes of

ment, manufactured in Argentina, Brazil, Italy, South

tubes, 700 valves, 38 t of new structures and more

Korea, Japan, China and the United States, will make

than 13,000 m of cable.

2012 a watershed year in centuries of struggle to obtain

Estéban Trouet, born in Córdoba, Argentina, is the Construction Manager for the project. He explains that

energy from oil in Argentina. Ensenada will go down in that country’s history as a synonym for progress.

informa

57


ARGUMENT

Energy: fresh paradigms The knowledge and technologies developed in the future are even more important than the energy resources Brazil has today

58

informa

58


D

reaming up future scenarios for

priority (better lighting, more comfort, more ex-

the economy and society has al-

ternal insulation, etc).

ways been a fascinating exercise.

We will still need to create large blocks of

Gone are the days when it was the

energy for concentrated use (especially for the

exclusive province of science fic-

industrial processes that now absorb 25% of to-

tion and novels for young adults. Today, backed

tal energy output), and in this context, cleaner

by a wide range of technologies, specialists from

forms of energy – from biomass, but mainly from

different areas are dedicated to that pursuit, be-

nuclear plants, which will still be necessary.

cause their knowledge is vital for the analysis of

The prospects for economic technologies that

a series of investments, especially in infrastruc-

capture CO2 emissions are still not competitive,

ture.

which is concerning due to the enormous con-

Among the various fields of infrastructure, af-

sumption in China and India, which are urban-

ter the recent and steady advances made in in-

izing and industrializing rapidly and use coal as

formation technology and communications, the

their primary source of energy. Despite all the

energy sector will produce the most innovations.

efforts to save fossil fuels, they will continue to

They will mainly arise from the need to reduce

play a major role.

the environmental impacts of production and

In the transport segment, accounting for 25%

consumption. The world today has 7 billion peo-

of total energy consumption, urban mobility is-

ple living in it, and over the next 25 years, that

sues should involve increasing restrictions on

number will increase to 9 billion. These people,

car use in urban areas, introducing more elec-

mostly city dwellers, will be accessing the en-

tric cars and electrified mass transit in large cit-

ergy market directly. If the current trend contin-

ies. Megaships and greater use of rail networks,

ues, the Earth’s average temperature will rise by

coupled with increased gains in the field of logis-

four degrees Celsius over that period due to the

tics, will be invaluable.

gases emitted.

All this points to steadily increasing energy

The consequences of that would be so dire,

prices, requiring the feasibility of using ratio-

especially for developing economies and the

nal and efficient technologies on the consump-

southern hemisphere, that something must be

tion side (light bulbs, refrigerators, heaters,

done to keep this temperature rise below two de-

air conditioners) and the production side. The

grees Celsius (which would still be high). Despite

environmental demands impose increasing pro-

the recent failures of world climate conferences,

duction costs – whether in Brazil, where there

the facts will force economic and governmental

are abundant renewable resources, or in other

agents to act differently.

countries. Spending on research in the field of

In terms of objective measures, it would be essential, among other things, to massively streamline

solar power and other sustainable forms of energy will grow.

consumption, bringing about a considerable in-

A new future is coming, and we have to deal with

crease in the use of renewable energy for produc-

the changes and opportunities it will bring. Brazil

tion, greater use of natural gas of different geo-

has important energy resources, but the most im-

logical origins from the current one (oil shale),

portant resource of all will be the knowledge and

more decentralized production of energy (wind

technologies developed in the future.

power and solar panels) and an entirely new concept of distribution networks for electricity and gas, associating them with the intensive electronic monitoring of facility use (smart-grids). Today, about 50% of the total energy consumed is used by residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Therefore, this segment should be the top

José Luiz Alquéres is a civil engineer and consultant

informa

59


60

informa informa


&

photo:

Bruno Veiga

News People

Children playing ball in the sports court in the Cidadão Japuíba apartment complex in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro

Check out reports in this section about the recent achievements of the Odebrecht Organization’s teams in Brazil and worldwide, and features on company members’ daily lives

62

Corinthians fans will soon get a new stadium, which will host the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup

67

Housing families left homeless by mudslides in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro

70

MIA Mover: a project that symbolizes the conviction that intermodal transport is the solution

73

The thoughts and activities of James Eldridge, Maria José Araque and Monica Evangelista

74

Fabiano Zillo and the experience of adapting to new situations on the job and in life

76

The opening of the Hertha Odebrecht Library, a facility for Organization members and public events

78

The Margarida Alves settlement in Ituberá, Bahia, is living proof that change is achieved through unity

81

An exhibition in Salvador, Bahia, looks back on the 2,500-year history of money

82

Augusto Roque and the savvy acquired by facing challenging experiences around the globe


2014 FIFA WORLD CUP

a home for the

FANS written by Julio Cesar Soares and Karolina Gutiez

62

informa

A 101-year dream is coming true: the Corinthians soccer stadium, chosen to host the World Cup opening match


Illustration shows the finished stadium. In the lower left-hand corner, a montage shows former President Lula, a passionate Corinthians supporter, and the club president, Andrés Sanchez, in the crowd. In this story, Sanchez says he wants to sit in the stands with the other Corinthians fans

L

egend has it that, from May to

titles, including state, interstate and

cious plans for sports arenas, without

September 1910, a series of

national tournaments and the FIFA

success. While the stadium stayed on

meetings among five workers

Clubs World Championship in 2000.

the drawing board, the club used Pa-

held in the lamp light on the corner

Achievements celebrated by millions

caembu Municipal Stadium, owned by

of Cônego Martins and Imigrantes

of “crazies,” as their supporters call

São Paulo City, as renters – and they

streets in the São Paulo neighborhood

themselves, including the Odebrecht

will continue to use it until the end of

of Bom Retiro engendered the Cor-

Informa team reporting and some of

the 2014 World Cup.

inthians Paulista Sport Club. On

the characters in this story. But never

September 1st of that year, its birth

on home turf.

Architect Aníbal Coutinho Coutinho, from the Diegues e Cordeiro Ar-

was registered in the club’s founding

For a century, the Corinthians “na-

quitetos firm, came up with a plan to

charter – “Brazilian, most Brazilian,”

tion” of fans has cherished the dream

retrofit Pacaembu, that is, it would

as their fans (called the fiel or “faith-

of having their own stadium. Its cur-

have been completely renovated to

ful”) chant when singing its anthem.

rent headquarters, Parque São Jorge,

become the “Big Team’s” permanent

From then on, the soccer club has

hosted major matches until the 60s.

home. Odebrecht had similar plans,

racked up 101 years of “a thousand

Since then, several leaders of the Cor-

with a sophisticated design for Paulo

traditions and glories”: more than 40

inthians have developed some auda-

Machado de Carvalho (the stadium’s

informa

63


the City. “By then, the relationship between Corinthians, Odebrecht and the architectural firm had been firmly

Yan Vanndaru

get the necessary concession from

photos:

official name), but the club did not

established. We started looking for the best conditions for making this dream come true,” says Luis Paulo Rosenberg, who has been the club’s Chief Marketing Officer for four years and a fan since birth.

Part of the club’s history They found the best conditions in Itaquera, in the East Zone of São Paulo, where they decided to build a new stadium. The neighborhood is part of the team’s history: a former Corinthians president, Vicente Matheus, got the concession for the area in 1979 during the administration of then– Mayor Olavo Setúbal. Until recently, it housed Corinthians’ youth league training camp, and has been the focus of studies for previous projects. “We tried to reach an agreement with the City Government to unite these two hubs of Pacaembu, but we realized that Itaquera was the best option,” says Luis Paulo Rosenberg. The new stadium will be built in a 198,000-m2 area. Rectangular, it will

64

The stands and the site of the soccer pitch: scenes of the birth of a stadium. Below, Aníbal Coutinho and a projection of the finished project: the architect visited major stadiums in the United States and Europe

the stands, boxes and VIP areas,” says

investments. “The arena will be one of

Frederico Barbosa, the Operations

inducers of a process that will improve

Manager for the project.

people’s quality of life in the region be-

Part of the workforce, which will

cause it will stimulate investments in

include 2,000 members at the peak of

mobility projects, bring in educational

the project, will be local hires. “We have

institutions and businesses, and con-

already started a version of the Acredi-

sequently create job opportunities,”

tar [professional education] program

argues Benedicto Junior, CEO of Ode-

to train 300 people, including construc-

brecht Infraestrutura. “This trend can

tion assistants, carpenters, bricklayers

already be seen in the rising property

and steelfixers,” says Frederico.

values in the East Zone,” adds Benedicto, a “passionate supporter” of the

2014 World Cup

Corinthians club.

During negotiations for the project, the stadium was mooted as a possible venue for the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. FIFA confirmed it in October 2011, which will require some temporary installations, such as increasing the number of seats to

have a 7,000-tonne roof whose ap-

65,000, adapting the press room to re-

pearance will belie its weight. “The

ceive 5,000 media professionals, and

arena will convey a sense of lightness,

modifying the stadium’s security, as

as if it were hovering in the air. It will

it will be visited by more than 30 del-

have an aura of monumentality,” says

egations of heads of state during the

Rosenberg. The structure is open on

event. The project will be completed by

the north and south ends; on the west

December 2013.

According to Project Director An-

end there will be a building housing

According to a study conducted

private boxes, parking facilities and

tonio Roberto Gavioli, the stadium

by the Accenture consulting firm, the

will help bolster the Odebrecht Or-

service areas, among other facilities.

economic impact of holding the open-

ganization’s image. “The exposure is

Located on the east side, one of the

ing match of the 2014 World Cup in

enormous. We have over 30 million

stands will be as high as the building

São Paulo will be BRL 30 billion over

clients,” he jokes, referring to the

on the west side. The other stands be-

10 years, especially in the East Zone,

number of Corinthians fans in Bra-

hind the goals will be lower. “There are

the most populous part of the city,

zil. “Furthermore, we are going to

over 48,000 seats, all told, including

which is lacking in infrastructure and

build the stadium hosting the opening

informa


match of the 2014 World Cup.” Gavi-

arena, Sidnei is one of the organizers of

zies,’ I will be proud to see the wonder-

oli stresses the team’s pride in taking

the monthly gatherings at the entrance

ful house built in Itaquera.”

part in a project that is so important to

to the jobsite: a pot-luck barbecue

the city, the state and the country. “It’s

where admission is free and everyone

Watershed

an opportunity for Odebrecht to reach

brings their own food.

Going to any Brazilian stadium is,

segments of society that had once

“The idea came up during a meeting

above all, a proof of love for a club from its

near Pacaembu that we held two years

fans. Run-down infrastructure, difficult

The contract was signed on Sep-

ago,” says Silvio Oliveira, another orga-

access and few leisure options before and

tember 3, during the celebrations of

nizer of the event. “Anyone can come

after the games usually keep some of the

the club’s 101st anniversary. A party

if they’re a Corinthians fan,” he says.

supporters away. For Andrés, the Corin-

attended by the former President of

He adds: “We’re not here to just keep

thians stadium is a watershed in Brazil-

Brazil and current President of the

an eye on the progress of the work, but

ian sport. “It will be an impressive thing

Republic of Corinthians, Luiz Inácio

to celebrate, to witness and be part

for soccer in this country, better than the

Lula da Silva, marked the event, where

of this history.” Both Sidnei and Silvio

European standard,” says the President.

30,000 fans also gathered at the en-

can already see themselves cheering

The ideal for this project is to make go-

trance of the jobsite – attendance wor-

for Corinthians in the future stadium.

ing to the stadium a pleasant experience,

thy of a classic soccer tournament.

So can Andrés Sanchez Navarro, the

win or lose. “We want to go beyond being

Everyone, from the fans to the club

club’s President and a member since

a ‘place to see a game’ by providing com-

president, is eagerly awaiting the new

1969. “I will be right there with the

fort for the fans, fast and easy access to

stadium. “I want my home, I want

fans, in the stands,” he predicts. And

the stands and facilities of the stadium,

this dream to come true,” says Sidnei

so can Benedicto: “I will definitely be at

and offering other services. We want to

Beires, 28. A resident of the Cangaiba

the stadium for the team’s first game

give the fans a full experience,” explains

district, about 10 km from the future

there, and like thousands of other ‘cra-

Aníbal Coutinho.

known little about us.”

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65


66

Yan Vanndaru photos:

Standing, from left, Francisco das Chagas “Mestre Pará” Lopes, Ricardo Corregio, Frederico Barbosa, Antonio Gavioli and Domingos Sávio de Araújo; kneeling, Joel Santos, Jason Oliveira, Almir Fontenele de Araújo, Felipe Pacífico Ferreira and Gilson Guardia: members of the Odebrecht team working on the project

Andrés Sanchez: “I will be right there with the fans, in the stands”

High-definition screens and TVs

the stadium, and that amount will be

if the project runs out of funds dur-

will be installed throughout the sta-

fully repaid to the bank from future

ing construction, the company will

dium, in the snack bars, in the re-

revenues generated by the stadium’s

purchase enough shares in the FII to

strooms (all internal areas will be

operations.

cover the amount required. The club is

air-conditioned) and other facilities

The SPE will also be the major

to ensure that, even when they leave

shareholder of a Real Estate Invest-

The creation of an FII is common

their seats, fans will still be able to

ment Fund (FII), the owner of the

practice in the housing market, but

watch the game. “Unlike a game of

stadium, which also has the right

unprecedented when it comes to fi-

basketball or baseball, which are long,

to receive Development Incentive

nancing sports arenas. “We came

soccer matches are short. Therefore,

Certificates (CIDs), based on an in-

up with this solution because banks

fans don’t like to like to leave their

centive mechanism created in 2004

rarely make direct loans to soccer

seats to make sure they won’t miss an

by São Paulo City to encourage in-

clubs in Brazil,” explains Felipe Jens,

important play. Thanks to the wireless

vestment in the East Zone. The cer-

CEO of Odebrecht Investimentos e

system covering the entire stadium,

tificates are equivalent to 60% of the

Participações.

you’ll be able to order snacks from

total investment.

also a shareholder of the fund.

“In addition to building major en-

your seat, pay by credit card and get

Investors who hold these certificates

gineering and construction projects,

them right where you are, without get-

can use them as payment for service

Odebrecht has developed financial

ting up,” says Aníbal. For 20 years, the

tax and/or property tax in São Paulo.

engineering solutions for 67 years.

architect has visited major stadiums in

In the case of the Corinthians stadium,

Clients for major infrastructure proj-

the United States and Europe to study

the value of CIDs was limited to BRL

ects don’t always have all the neces-

their operations, see how things work

420 million, regardless of the final cost

sary funds available at the time the

on game days and even check out the

of the construction project. Certificates

contract is signed. We come in with

type of grass they use.

will be valid for 10 years. “Other proj-

the engineering solution in one hand

This structure and those facilities

ects will be financed through CIDs and,

and the financial engineering in the

will cost the club BRL 820 million. Of

along with the stadium, will bring de-

other. They go together,” says Felipe,

this amount, BRL 400 million will be

velopment to the East Zone,” says the

who adds: “We believe that the soc-

financed by BNDES, Brazil’s national

Mayor of São Paulo, Gilberto Kassab,

cer market is going to grow in Brazil.

socioeconomic development bank,

after signing the law granting tax incen-

Word is beginning to circulate in the

which, by decision of the Federal

tives for the project at a ceremony held

financial market about the possibility

Government, is providing loans up to

at the jobsite in July. The projected in-

of IPOs for soccer clubs, and that will

that amount for each city that will

come from the stadium, including rev-

involve massive amounts of money,

host World Cup matches, disbursed

enue associated with sponsorship, can

since investors are also huge fans.”

to a Special Purpose Company (SPE)

be used to defray part of the investment

formed to carry out the project. The

if other sources are not enough.

SPE will use the BNDES loan to cover

Odebrecht has given the necessary

part of the investment needed to build

guarantees to make the deal possible:

informa

Call it a dream. In the case of the Corinthians, it is the dream of a nation of more than 30 million people. And it is on its way to coming true.


HOUSING

Children riding bicycles at the Cidadão Japuíba Complex: families feel they are getting a fresh start

It’s great to be here Angra dos Reis residents left homeless by mudslides in 2009 are moving into their new homes written by Edilson Lima photos by Bruno Veiga

“C

ome on in, but don’t mind

de Souza, 75, had moved into their

the city center. Her house did not

the mess, because we’re

new home on September 9, a few

collapse, but it was located in a

still setting up house!”

days before our visit. “We got the

high-risk area. “It took a lot of hard

That was how Juraci Fátima de

keys on 15 August,” she says with

work to build that house, but we

Souza, 53, welcomed our news

a joyful smile.

had to leave it behind. Our lives are

team to her new apartment in the

Juraci’s family was one of many

much more important. Thank God,

Cidadão Japuíba building in Angra

left homeless by the rains and

no human lives [in our family] were

dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro. Juraci,

mudslides of December 31, 2009,

lost,” she says. Today, in that new

her

Oliveira

in Angra dos Reis. She used to live

setting, she feels they are getting

Lage, 69, and her father, Glicério

in the Morro do Perez slum, near

a fresh start: “I couldn’t wait to get

husband,

Alcenyr

informa

67


my own apartment. Now we can

full of mud. The gas stove and

people. One thousand people were

get on with our lives.”

refrigerator were ruined. It was

left homeless and 4,500 others

hopeless.”

were displaced from their homes

For the past five years, health

con-

because they were located in haz-

to use a wheelchair. Speaking of

demned, and since then she and her

ardous areas. So providing housing

their new housing, he emphatically

family have lived in a unit provided

for people urgently in need of as-

states: “Everything here is terrific.

by the Recomeçar (New Start) pro-

sistance was an emergency mea-

I love everything about it, especial-

gram, also known as “social rent-

sure for the public authorities. The

ly going out for a ‘stroll.’” Alcenyr

als.” This benefit was provided by the

first step was to put them up in so-

adds: “Back in the slum, even do-

City of Angra to help families who

called “social rentals.” The second

ing the month’s grocery shopping

had lost their homes to the mud-

was to build 800 housing units as

was hard, because we had to climb

slides. The financial aid provided is

soon as possible. Achieving that

so many stairs. Here the area is

one monthly minimum wage (BRL

goal required the unified action

flat, well organized, and has a dif-

545, roughly USD 300) per unit for up

of the City of Angra dos Reis, the

ferent kind of structure.”

problems

have

forced

Glicério

Rosineide’s

house

was

to 180 days. On September 17, 2011,

Rio de Janeiro State Department

Rosineide Maria da Silva, 28,

Rosineide moved into her new home

of Public Works (Seobras) and the

tells a similar story. Born in the

on the fourth floor of a building in the

Ministry of National Integration, in

northeast Brazilian state of Recife,

same complex as Juraci. “Look, this

partnership with the private sector.

she arrived in Angra dos Reis five

here is terrific, see? I still can’t be-

Angra dos Reis is a popular

years ago. She used to live in the

lieve this is my apartment. I’m living

resort city with 365 islands on its

Morro da Cruz slum with her hus-

a dream,” she says, turning her eyes

coastline, of which the largest and

band, Antônio Gomes de Oliveira,

to her two young children, Victoria,

most famous is Ilha Grande (Big

and three sons. On the day of the

18 months, and Victor, 3.

Island). Tourists from Brazil and

mudslides they were all asleep in

around the world come to visit the city just to see them. However, the

went to his parents’ bedroom to

Efficient construction method

warn them that the kitchen was

According to the Angra dos

primarily of steep hills. “Our ge-

“falling.” Rosineide recalls, “I ran

Reis Department of Urban Devel-

ography does not give us enough

out and saw that the kitchen was

opment, the mudslides killed 53

areas suitable for housing,” says

bed when her eldest son (now 6)

terrain on the mainland consists

Cassio Veloso de Abreu, the city’s Secretary of Urban Development. “About 70% of dwellings are irregular. The mudslides of 2009 further increased our responsibility. These 800 housing units are not enough; they are just the beginning of an extensive effort.” To build 800 housing units, the Seobras hired Consórcio Angra Melhor, a joint venture of Odebrecht Infraestrutura and Bairro Novo, the Odebrecht Realizações Imobiliárias (OR) area focused on the low-income housing sector. “This emergency situation led members Juraci, her husband, Alcenyr, and her father, Glicério: “I couldn’t wait to get my own apartment”

68

informa

of the two companies to engage in dialogue and present a proposal that


Buildings constructed with a method that takes less time while maintaining quality: Bairro Novo developed this solution to meet the needs of Angra dos Reis

could soon be put into action,” says

Negreiros Guimarães, the joint ven-

buildings and 140 apartments;

Flávio Donda, the project’s Opera-

ture’s Engineering and Commercial

Cidadão Japuíba, which opened

tions Manager.

Manager.

on August 15, with 21 buildings

aluminum

The project required mobiliz-

and 420 apartments, and Cidadão

molds, a method that reduces con-

ing experienced people from other

Gloria, which will be opening soon,

struction time, optimizes large-

parts of Brazil to train local mem-

with 12 apartment buildings and

scale production and ensures a

bers. “The city didn’t have a work-

240 units. Each building has five

good-quality end result. The en-

force dedicated to the construc-

floors with four units per floor.

tire process goes like this: first,

tion industry. We had to train local

The apartments each have a to-

the foundations are laid, then the

members as the work progressed.

tal area of 45.5 m2, with a living

framework is built with a steel grid

It was an intense experience of

room, kitchen, bathroom and two

containing water pipes and tubes for

education through work,” observes

bedrooms.

electrical wiring and phone lines.

Administrative-Financial Manager

“The challenge we faced was

The aluminum molds are mounted

Manoel Cavalcante de Almeida

enormous, but our teams were

according to the blueprint for the

Filho.

able to satisfy the client by har-

Bairro

Novo

uses

project. Then come the concrete

Engineer Raul Cerqueira Rezende

nessing the transversality of two

walls and roof slab. Sixteen hours

from the Rio de Janeiro State public

of the Organization’s companies,”

later, the molds are removed. This

works company (EMOP), is responsi-

says André Viana Portela, Proj-

procedure is repeated on each floor.

ble for supervising the construction

ect Director for Bairro Novo in the

The final touches include plaster-

works. He says: “The joint venture

states of Rio de Janeiro and Bahia.

ing the walls, painting and doing any

did an excellent job. The extremely

“Odebrecht Infraestrutura did out-

necessary finishing.

tight schedule was a major chal-

standing work, with its capability

lenge.”

to mobilize teams and develop the

“Besides being practical, these molds are reusable and recyclable,

The project included building

projects, and Bairro Novo came in

so we don’t need to use wood, unlike

three apartment complexes that

with an engineering solution that

conventional projects. This demon-

have already been completed:

could produce housing units within

strates the sustainable nature of

Cidadão Areal, which opened in

the schedule and budget the client

the entire process,” says Marcella

February 18, 2011, with seven

required,” he says.

informa

69


TRANSPORTATION

Everything’s connected MIA Mover links the airport to Miami Central Station, which is connected to the metro, train, bus and taxi systems and a centralized car-rental service written by Thaís Reiss

M

photos by Steven Brooke

iami’s non-stop growth

important role since it began op-

turn, is linked to the metro, train

since the 1980s has led

erations in early September.

and bus systems, as well as taxis and a centralized car-rental ser-

the Miami-Dade Aviation

The MIA Mover is 2 kilometers

Department (MDAD) to partner with

long, with eight rubber-tired vehi-

the Florida Department of Trans-

cles running in both directions, ca-

“Intermodality is key to provid-

portation (FDOT) to implement a

pable of carrying up to 3,000 pas-

ing an efficient transport system,

strategy for expanding and improv-

sengers per hour each way free

especially because of traffic con-

ing access to Miami International

of charge, at an average speed

gestion and very limited space

Airport. In this context, the MIA

of 64 km per hour. The system

for making conventional road im-

Mover, Miami’s Automated People

connects the airport terminal to

provements,” says Sanjeev Shah,

Mover (APM), has been playing an

Miami Central Station, which, in

CEO of the Lea+Elliott consulting

70

informa

vice.


airports, and sum it up like this:

in the passengers’ experience,

“It’s fast, convenient and well sign-

because it allows them to trans-

posted.”

fer from one mode of transport to

Pedro Hernandez, from the

another based on individual pref-

Development and Management

erences.”

Division of MDAD, observes: “The

Fabio Martins, a Brazilian tourist

MIA Mover will help consolidate

on his third visit to Miami, agrees.

Miami as a business hub.” He be-

“I was worried about being late be-

lieves that intermodality will cre-

cause of my previous experiences.

ate major opportunities for local

In addition to returning the rental

economic development. On this

car, I still had to catch the bus to

point, Luiz Simon, the Odebrecht

the airport. But the train arrived in

Project Director responsible for

less than two minutes. I was pleas-

the works, adds that construc-

antly surprised.” The Portuguese

tion of the MIA Mover, which be-

couple Natacha and Salvador Vil-

gan in September 2008, created

las Boas are accustomed to this

more than one thousand direct

type of transportation at European

job opportunities, including about

Photo: Thaís Reiss

firm. “It is also a positive factor

MIA Mover, with Natacha and Salvador: “It’s fast, practical and well signposted”

informa

71


MIA Mover station: award for workplace safety performance

72

50 subcontractors, and generated

LEED Gold certification from the

Vice President for the Transpor-

more than USD 35 million in con-

US Green Building Council. Over

tation Systems Division of Mit-

tracts for local small businesses.

80% of the waste generated dur-

subishi Heavy Industries America,

ing construction was recycled,

Inc., the subcontractor responsi-

Safety award

and the station is designed to re-

ble for the MIA Mover’s operating system.

Completed on schedule and

duce water consumption by 30%

within the proposed budget, the

and energy costs by 15%. Fur-

Luiz Simon points out that

MIA Mover also stands out for

thermore, when the MIA Mover

these results were only possible

winning the VPP Star Status

began operations, it eliminated

because of Odebrecht’s excellent

workplace

from

1,400 trips by bus and minibus

relationship with the client and

OSHA, the US agency that certi-

from the airport to Miami Central

subcontractors. “Despite the nu-

fies occupational safety. It was

Station, which represents a 30%

merous difficulties encountered

the first transportation project

reduction in road traffic within

during construction, the partner-

in Florida and the second within

the airport and a significant re-

ship formed with the client and

OSHA Region IV, which covers

duction in carbon emissions as a

the subcontractors was essential

eight US states, to receive the

result.

to completing the work on time

safety

award

and within budget.”

award. Carlos Bonzon, Vice Presi-

The team responsible for the

dent of Bermello Ajamil & Part-

project faced a major challenge

According to Gino Antoniello,

ners, Inc., the client’s consulting

when it came to the work sched-

Vice President for the Transpor-

firm for civil works, notes: “The

ule. Due to delays related to the

tation Equipment and Systems

level of safety during construction

consequences of the terrorist at-

Division of Sumitomo Corporation

was exceptional.”

tacks of September 11, 2001, the

of America, Mitsubishi’s partner

And if its workplace safety

initial schedule had to be reduced

company, the MIA Mover is the

program deserved recognition,

by eighteen months. “The dead-

result of a strategic vision that

the project’s environmental pro-

line for the project [three years]

places Miami-Dade County at the

tection programs are no slouch

was very tight. However, through

forefront of intermodal transpor-

either. The MIA Mover station,

open communication and a strong

tation, “as a community with fu-

located at the airport, will be

sense of teamwork, we were able

turistic vision that appreciates the

the first mass transport project

to complete it on time and within

value of using new technologies

in Miami-Dade County to receive

budget,” says Darin Friedman,

to modernize.”

informa


FOLKS

A new lifestyle María José lives in a remote region, but she doesn’t feel alone

C

sponsible for Costs on the Commercial Management

Photo: Lia Lubambo

team for the Third Orinoco Bridge Project, based in the village of Caicara, Venezuela. She joined Odebrecht in 2005 to work on the construction of the Second Orinoco Bridge, and when that project ended, she accepted an invitation to move to Caicara. She left her parent’s home and her friends

A taste for the unusual

behind and set off on her own to a remote community that has very few amenities. “Today I’m a more sensitive person,

James and the new desire to experience the world

J

ivil engineer María José Araque is the officer re-

and at the same time, I’m stronger and more secure,” she says. According to María José, being so far from home is not

ames Eldridge was born in the US state of Tennes-

a problem. Her Odebrecht co-workers are her family now,

see, in Palmer, a coal-mining town. He has a degree

and she has plenty of time to enjoy the gorgeous natural sur-

in Construction Management and joined Odebrecht in Mi-

roundings. “Aside from that, it’s all about work and helping

ami six years ago. Married with four children and three

my country develop. That’s highly rewarding,” she says.

grandchildren, he is a homebody. He likes to restore historic houses and go antiquing with his wife, Susan Gail. He is now working in New Orleans, but he spent four months in Libya in 2010 and 2011 working on projects at Tripoli International Airport. Since he had never lived Tripoli was especially challenging. After returning to the US, he wrote My Libya Experience, in which he describes how he applied the teachings of Odebrecht Entrepreneurial Technology (TEO) in a foreign land. “I’d like to keep on expanding my view of the world and get to know more cul-

P hoto : olanda AndrésCMavalcanti anner foto :H

or worked outside his home country before, his time in

tures,” he says.

The chemistry of differences Monica collects cultural curiosities

A

s Braskem’s Market Development Manager for the Polypropylene area, Monica Evangelista visits clients throughout Brazil. In her work, she takes

into account cultural differences like these: meetings with companies in rural São Paulo begin with conversations about the family and the weather before they move on to the agenda, and can go on all day; others, in the South, get straight

foto Holanda Cavalcanti Photo : D:ario de Freitas

to the point and rarely last over half an hour. “I like what I do. There’s no routine in my life and I can get to know different places and people,” she says. A 19-year member of Braskem, Monica has a BS in Industrial Chemistry and a Masters in Polymers and has participated in the construction of the Braskem Technology and Innovation Center at Triunfo, Rio Grande do Sul. In September, she had just returned from China – a trip that was part of the MBA course that ends in 2011. Although she is a seasoned traveler, she was still impressed: “There is nothing like it! We always have something new to discover,” she says. informa

73


PROFILE: Fabiano Zillo

Right at ease in his time and place written by Eliana Simonetti photos by Ricardd Teles

A

The CEO of ETH’s Araguaia Hub, Zillo is experiencing a particularly motivating time in his career

smile lights up Fabiano

kilometers by land and air from

Not, that is, until 2007, the year that

José Zillo’s countenance

Paulista, São Paulo, where he lives

marked a turning point in his world

when he arrives at the

with his family. Descended from

when he was 43. The family-owned

workplace. His eyes survey the

Italian immigrants who arrived in

group, Zilor Energia e Alimentos, em-

scene around him with satisfac-

Brazil in the late 19th century to

barked on a process of profession-

tion. He is CEO of ETH Bioenergy’s

invest in agribusiness, he majored

alization and corporate governance,

Araguaia Hub, which is made up of

in Agronomy and has an MS in Soil

and he decided to step down from the

two units in the Brazilian state of

and Plant Nutrition, with emphasis

board and begin working as an in-

Goiás: Água Emendada and Morro

on Sugarcane, from the University

dependent consultant. He also went

Vermelho, the hub’s administra-

of São Paulo’s Luiz Queiroz School

through a divorce and a serious health

tive base. Mineiros County, where

of Agriculture (Usalq-USP) in Pi-

problem. Today, he looks back on all

Morro Vermelho is located, is in one

racicaba. Zillo got

married and

that as just another phase in the life of

of the highest areas of Brazil, the

had three daughters, and spent

someone who is accustomed to sur-

Caiapós Mountains, which contain

11 years working in various areas

mounting challenges. “As a teenager,

the sources of about 5,000 water-

of the family business, eventually

I was picked on for being overweight. I

ways, including the Araguaia River,

becoming executive director of its

took care of my body, became an ath-

and savannah preserves like Ema

three sugar and ethanol units. Al-

lete, and as a volleyball player, I played

Bird National Park.

though he received invitations to

on champion teams,” he says.

Zillo feels right at home in

join other companies, he didn’t

In May 2009, Zillo joined the Agri-

Morro Vermelho, although, to get

want to make any changes in his

cultural Board of ETH. A month later,

there, he has to travel over 1,250

life.

he was invited to participate in the merger with Brenco and led the valuation process (the qualitative process

“I’ve discovered that I have a taste for new things and an adaptability that I’d never known before. I’ve ‘reset’ my life and world view”

of evaluating companies). Starting in September, he headed the project to standardize agribusiness processes, implemented in April 2010. That same month, he became CEO of Brenco, leading the consolidation of teams, processes and all sugarcane production projects. As CEO of the Araguaia Hub, he interacts directly and intensely with members, partners, suppli-

7474

informa


ers, unions and the community.

ness, which are now mechanized,

and values of the Odebrecht Entrepre-

He also renegotiates contracts and

are important creators of job op-

neurial Technology (TEO). It also pre-

meets with local landowners – who

portunities and sources of income

sented an opportunity to take part in a

traditionally grow other crops and

for skilled professionals. The ETH

mega-operation that is contributing to

raise livestock – to advise them to

Araguaia Hub alone has over 3,000

Brazil’s development. “The economy

use part of their land to plant sug-

members, in addition to the indi-

of Mineiros has grown by 30% in the

arcane to ensure greater diversifi-

rect employment its operations

past five years,” he says. It also gave

cation and therefore more stable

generate.”

him a chance to demonstrate his own

earnings. He has spearheaded

When

asked

competence. “At ETH, everything

the creation of a professional ed-

why he decided

ucation center for technicians in

to join ETH,

now that I’m outside the fam-

Mineiros through a partnership

Zillo doesn’t

ily niche I’ve discovered that I

between ETH and SENAI (the Na-

think twice: it

have a taste for new things

tional Industrial Education Ser-

was primarily

and an adaptability that I’d

vice). “We want to improve people’s

because he

never known before. I’ve

living and working conditions,” he

identifies with

says. “Agriculture and agribusi-

the principles

happens in fast-forward, and

‘reset’ my life and my world view,” he concludes.

informa

75


ARTS & CULTURE

Archive of principles The Hertha Odebrecht Library opens at the Organization’s headquarters in Salvador, Bahia written by Rodrigo Vilar

A

photos by Beg Figueiredo

ceremony held on August

of Odebrecht S.A., and Norberto,

Odebrecht and members of the

18 officially opened the

Emílio and Marcelo Odebrecht,

Organization as well as Odebrecht

Hertha Odebrecht Library

who have succeeded each other at

publications, it is also a venue for

the helm of the Organization.

community and cultural events. Since

at the Organization’s headquarters in Salvador, Bahia. During the

The library is part of the Ode-

it opened in mid-October, it has

event, Hebe Meyer, Senior Advisor

brecht Culture Center, on the ground

hosted 11 events, including lectures

to the Chairman of the Board of

floor of the Organization’s head-

by educators like Professor Ma-

Trustees of the Odebrecht Foun-

quarters building in Salvador. In ad-

bel Velloso and historian Ubiratan

dation, presented this new cultural

dition to containing the private liter-

Castro, screenings of films like The

facility to Members of the Board

ary collection donated by Norberto

Pedagogy of Presence, directed by

informa


Jorge Alfredo, and activities for chil-

discipline and organization, my

portant role in the upbringing of

dren, including an adapted reading

sisters and I were groomed for

the Organization’s founder. She

of the life of abolitionist poet Castro

life and work. Those teachings

devoted herself to raising her

Alves by actor Jackson Costa to cel-

were always aimed at the pursuit

children on the basis of principles

ebrate Children’s Day. There was a

of truth, and what was right and

and values that contributed deci-

full house every time.

best for everyone.”

sively to the establishment of what

Another feature of the library

The library’s name is a tribute

would later form the basis of the

is a space for temporary thematic

to Norberto Odebrecht’s mother.

Odebrecht Entrepreneurial Tech-

exhibitions. The first theme cho-

Hertha Odebrecht played an im-

nology (TEO).

sen was the life of Hertha Odebrecht and the places where she lived. One of the panels features a quote by Norberto Odebrecht on his family values: “At home, under the leadership of my mother, Hertha Odebrecht, we lived in a family environment that was educational, religious and trusting. Early on, through

Marcelo, Norberto and Emílio with a photo of Hertha Odebrecht: generations marked and united by principles and values cultivated throughout their upbringing. Smaller photo, young students from Salvador leafing through a book in the library: open to the community

informa

77


sustainable development

Everyone plays a key role written by Gabriela Vasconcellos

photos by Mรกrcio Lima

At the Margarida Alves settlement in Ituberรก, in the Southern Bahia Lowlands, small farm families are joining forces and learning skills to develop their community

78

informa

T

he daisy is a curious flower. If you look at it up close you will find that it actually con-

sists of two types of flowers. It is no accident that the white petals surround the yellow center. With distinct functions, each segment is part of a whole that performs different tasks essential to its survival. The community that bears its name is just the same. The Margarida (Daisy) Alves settlement, located in Ituberรก County


Antonio Nascimento with his wife and youngest son: “We now have technical support and our productivity has grown”

(280 km from the state capital, Salva-

Back then, my greatest desire was to

Antonio’s expectations grow every

dor), arose from the Landless Workers

have a piece of land,” he recalls. The

time he plants a peach palm. Within

Movement’s occupation of the area in

farmer found a growth opportunity

two years, he will harvest about 750

1998. Since then, the families have

when the Hearts-of-Palm Produc-

stalks on a monthly basis, which will

organized, parceled out the land and

ers Cooperative of the Southern Ba-

net him BRL 1,100 per month from

joined forces to develop their com-

hia Lowlands (Coopalm) arrived in

that crop alone. “I want to produce

munity.

the settlement in 2009. “In all these

even more, and expand my property,”

Antonio Nascimento Santos, 64,

years, the most important thing that

says the farmer, who is ready to go to

arrived in the region in 1996, along

happened was the arrival of Coo-

work in the fields by 5 a.m. “All this

with his wife and children, in search

palm. We are partners. We get tech-

ensures that we bring in some cash

of work. “I had nowhere to plant my

nical support and have increased our

at the end of the month. That way

crops, but we managed that here.

productivity,” he says.

I can take care of my family and the

informa

79


Ananias de Sena: “Our community has developed”

little house where I live. Now we’re

“You can have a very good life in

facilitates official documentation and

the countryside and grow and devel-

accounting, and the Continental Wa-

Antonio does not work alone.

op without needing to migrate to big

ters Aquaculture Cooperative (Coo-

His youngest son, Antonio Nasci-

cities in search of a dream that does

pecon) has initiated contact with the

mento Santos Filho, the only one

not exist,” says the new rural entre-

community to implement fish farm-

of his three children who still live

preneur, who joined Coopalm in 2011.

ing in the region, creating another

in the settlement, not only shares

“In the future, I’ll definitely be involved

opportunity for work and income.

his name but his love of the land.

with farming,” he says. His father is

For the residents of the settlement,

“Farming is my life. It’s my busi-

sure of that as well: “I am very happy

this is just the beginning. “We can

ness,” says Antonio Filho, 24. He

to see my son working the land. In the

already feel the difference. Our com-

is a student at the Igrapiúna Rural

countryside, we can have it all.”

munity has developed, we have more

planning to buy a car,” he says.

Family House (CFR-I) teaching unit,

Over 10,000 stalks harvested in 2011

Ananias de Sena, 73, one of the oldest

Program for the Integrated and Sustainable Development of the Mosaic

Currently, 18 of the 25 families liv-

also a Coopalm member. “Our income

of Environmental Protection Areas

ing in Margarida Alves are cooperative

in the Southern Bahia Lowlands

members. In 2011 alone, they har-

Ananias’s determination can be

(PDIS), an organization supported by

vested more than 10,000 palm stalks,

seen in every family that is inspired

the Odebrecht Foundation.

which has generated an average in-

by the strength and courage of the

Antonio Filho is about to graduate

come of over BRL 750 for the farm-

woman from whom the community

from the three-year course at CFR-I.

ers. “We believe in the cooperative

got its name. Margarida Maria Alves,

During his studies, he has had ac-

because we can see that it is a suc-

who died in 1983, was a fighter, a pio-

cess to training in areas such as farm

cessful program,” says Antonio Filho.

neer in defending the rights of rural

management, soils, perennial crops

Besides Coopalm and CFR-I, oth-

workers in Brazil. “She wasn’t from

and processing of plant and animal

er institutions linked to the PDIS are

around here, but we know all about

products, as well as the basics of

also interacting with the settlement.

her struggle,” says Ananias. Accord-

cooperativism, environmental educa-

The Land Conservation Organization

ing to the stories he tells, Margarida

tion and youth leadership. The new

(OCT), for example, has helped the

was nothing like a fragile, delicate

techniques he has learned, together

community get environmental regu-

flower. Her bravery and dedication to

with the assistance of Coopalm, have

lation from the state government. The

the group she defended were more

helped boost the productivity of his

Guardian Association for the Pratigi

like the yellow center that holds the

family farm.

Environmental Protection Area (AGIR)

white petals together.

which, like Coopalm , is part of the

80

peace of mind and guidance,” says

informa

residents of Margarida Alves, who is has done nothing but grow.”


HISTORY

The currency of time An exhibition in Salvador, Bahia, recounts the 2,500-year history of money written by Emanuela Sombra

A

coin minted 2,500 years

hibition has been on display

because of his

ago in Ancient Greece.

since September at the

father and in-

Another, in Alexander the

Bahia Commercial Asso-

herited a small

Great’s Macedonia. And some from

ciation (ACB) in the city of

portion of the

the time the Treaty of Tordesil-

Salvador. “Bahia had the first

las, Ancient Rome, colonial Bra-

Mint in Brazil. It is symbolic to

zil, Cleopatra’s Egypt, Henry VIII’s

hold an exhibition like this, with a

cause I lived abroad for

England, and more. Rarities that

strong educational component, in

many years, I always visited antique

can be seen at the exhibition titled

Salvador,” says the journalist, who

shops, picking up a coin here and

provided the 460 items

there. I started doing that at a time

(about half his coin col-

when very few people were inter-

History in Coins,”

lection) that will be

ested in the subject,” says the col-

hosted by Noenio

on public display

Spinola a journal-

until November 30.

2,500 years of Political

ist and writer from the Brazilian state of Bahia. Sponsored by Odebrecht Infraestrutura, the ex-

A eign

former

lector. Marcos Meirelles Fonseca, Pres-

for-

ident of the ACB, observes: “This is

correspondent

one of the most important exhibi-

in countries like Rus-

tions that Bahia has ever seen. It

sia, the UK and the United

makes us rethink the history of the

States, Spinola became a collector

emergence of entrepreneurship in this state and its development over the centuries.” Using technology and multimedia effects, “Money, Power & Gods” sheds light on the rise and fall of ancient and modern civilizations through the relationship between people and money. The exhibit also pays tribute to Bahia, recalling the demands of the first settlers and administrators of the province to modernize ports, adjust the exchange rate and make colonial exports more competitive. “For the Odebrecht Organization, sponsoring initia-

Odebrecht Archives

“Money, Power & Gods –

notes and coins from him. “But be-

tives like this means preserving our country’s historic and intangible heritage,” says André Vital, CEO of Odebrecht Infraestrutura.

informa

81


SAVVY

The solid foundations of a calling Statement by Augusto Roque given to Valber Carvalho Photos by: Geraldo Pestalozzi

H

e joined the Organization in

After two years in Maranhão, Au-

1985, eight years after grad-

gusto Roque worked in Argentina,

uating from college. Today,

directed the Xingó hydroelectric

after helping build eight dams and

project on the state line of Sergipe

hydropower plants in Brazil and

and Alagoas in Brazil, and was proj-

other countries, and spending 25

ect director for Odebrecht’s first

years on construction sites, Augusto

contract in Mexico, the Los Huites

Roque, Engineering Director of Ode-

hydroelectric plant. He went on to

brecht Energia, is still on the lookout

become the company’s CEO for that

for fresh challenges. “I was born to

country.

be an engineer,” he says.

In late 1996 he was invited to

He was just 11 years old when he

work on the island of Borneo in Ma-

first felt his calling for building dams.

laysia, where one day he received

He accompanied his father, a profes-

an intriguing message: the local

sor of Ballistics at the War College,

indigenous chief, the commander of

on a visit to the fifty-year-old Paulo

10,000 aboriginal people, wanted to

Afonso hydroelectric plants in north-

meet with him, alone.

ern Bahia. “That was just awesome.”

Augusto Roque is the third Or-

Augusto Roque has always be-

ganization member to give his

lieved that taking on major chal-

personal statement for the Savvy

lenges is the most effective way to

– People who have Learned from

achieve professional and personal

Work and Life Project. You can

growth. After just three months at

watch the full video interview on

Odebrecht, he did not hesitate when

Odebrecht Informa’s website (www.

he received his first “trial by fire”:

odebrechtonline.com.br) Here are

becoming production manager for

some excerpts:

the Flores Dam construction project in an isolated part of southern Ma-

82

A budding dam builder

ranhão, in northern Brazil. He only

My father was a career Navy man.

insisted on one thing: he wanted

I was 11 or 12 when I traveled with

to take his wife and baby son along

him to see the Paulo Afonso Com-

with him.

plex in the 60s. We flew there on an

informa

Augusto Roque has played a leading role in a challenging and emblematic story that includes experiences in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Malaysia


informa

83


fire in the open air. They get someone to roast the meat for them and it’s an enjoyable lunch for them. They don’t want to go to a cafeteria to eat rice and beans with potatoes and so on. So you have to respect that.

Malaysian indigenous chief sends a message The site of the future Bakun Hydro on the island of Borneo, in

Roque: “I was born to be an engineer”

Malaysia, was surrounded by indigenous tribes. A few months after I got there, I received a message from the head of the indigenous tribe, saying he wanted to meet me. It was like a movie where I was the leader of the white men and he was the Indian chief. I had to go alone, and my main concern was how I would communicate with the tribal chief. We ended up communicating through gestures. And I had to eat something I was absolutely sure was some part of a monkey. To this day I don’t know what it was that I ate. It made me really nauseous, but

Air Force plane, and that was when I

It was all improvised. Our first child

saw my first hydros, Paulo Afonso 1

was just over a year old.

and Paulo Afonso 2, and went down

Record concrete pour

into the caverns. That impressed me

Cultural differences

too. It was unforgettable.

In Malaysia, there is a fruit that, if

in Mexico was such a massive proj-

The construction of Los Huites

someone comes near you with it, you

Just one thing

ect that we beat the world record

have to leave the room. To give you an

for monthly concrete pours. We

On that project I only insisted on

idea, they have signs at the entrance

made the cover of ENR-Engineer-

one thing: that my family go there

of the international hotels saying: “Do

ing News Record magazine. It was

with me. The team at the time was

not enter with durian fruit.” It smells

a high-visibility project for Ode-

very surprised and said, “Damn,

like ammonia mixed with jackfruit. If

brecht, carried out in partnership

Roque, you’re going to take your

someone comes near you with that

with Mexican companies. But what

wife there?” “That’s right. My wife

fruit, you have to get out of there. But

caught my attention was the words

is from Uruguay. We’ve only been

for Malaysians, it’s a delicacy. A spec-

painted on the cemetery wall,

married four years, and she’s going

tacular thing, a treat. It’s their culture.

which read: “Fuera los brasileños”

to live with me on the jobsite.” “No way!” “Don’t worry, I’ll find a way.” My wife was the only woman at the

84

it was part of the job.

Uruguayan workers’ cafeteria

(“Brazilians go home”). It took a little time for the Mexican workers to understand our philosophy, but

jobsite, and there were 3,000 men

The Uruguayan workers just want

after about four months we noticed

there. We lived in a brick house that

to get a piece of raw meat, bread, let-

that the wall of the cemetery had

wasn’t plastered over on the outside.

tuce, tomato and onion, and make a

been painted white.

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Next issue:

Sustainability RESPONSIBLE FOR CORPORATE COMMUNICATION AT CONSTRUTORA NORBERTO ODEBRECHT S.A. Márcio Polidoro

Founded in 1944, Odebrecht is a Brazilian organization made up of diversified businesses with global operations and world-class standards of quality. Its 150,000 members are present in the Americas, Africa, Asia.

RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLICATIONS PROGRAMS AT CONSTRUTORA NORBERTO ODEBRECHT S.A. Karolina Gutiez BUSINESS AREA COORDINATORS Nelson Letaif Chemicals & Petrochemicals | Andressa Saurin Ethanol & Sugar | Bárbara Nitto Oil & Gas | Daelcio Freitas Environmental Engineering | Sergio Kertész Real Estate Developments | Coordinator at Odebrecht Foundation Vivian Barbosa EDITORIAL COORDINATION Versal Editores Editor-in-Chief José Enrique Barreiro Executive Editor Cláudio Lovato Filho English Translation by H. Sabrina Gledhill Graphic Production Rogério Nunes Graphic Design and Illustrations Rico Lins Photo Editor Holanda Cavalcanti Art/Electronic Publishing Maria Celia Olivieri Printing 1,600 copies | Pre-Press and Printing Pancrom EDITORIAL OFFICES Rio de Janeiro +55 21 2239-4023 | São Paulo +55 11 3641- 4743 email: versal@versal.com.br Originally published in Portuguese. Also available in Spanish.


Carlos Júnior photo:

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