ENGIE Brasil has awarded WEG a contract to supply equipment for the expansion of the Jaguara Hydropower Plant in Brazil, adding two new generating units that will increase the facility’s installed capacity by 232MW.
The Jaguara plant is located on the Rio Grande River on the border between the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo, in the municipality of Rifaina, São Paulo. The expansion follows ENGIE Brasil’s successful bid in Brazil’s 2026 Capacity Reserve Auction, held in March.
The project represents a planned investment of BRL1.2 billion and will install two new 116MW generating units in existing shafts. Commercial operation is expected to begin in 2030.
Jaguara has been part of ENGIE Brasil’s portfolio since 2017. The hydropower plant currently has an installed capacity of 424MW and a concession that runs until June 2048.
Rogério Suematsu, Manager of the Jaguara Hydropower Plant, said: “Jaguara is already a significant asset in our portfolio, and this expansion reinforces its role in providing flexibility, helping increase the reliability of the national power system while maximizing the use of existing infrastructure and delivering efficiency and sustainability gains.”
WEG will supply the equipment as part of its portfolio of power generation technologies, which includes hydro turbines, generators, transformers, substations, automation systems and battery energy storage solutions.
Paulo Leonardo da Silva Sinoti, WEG’s Director of Energy Solutions and Services, said: “WEG’s participation in the Jaguara Hydropower Plant expansion demonstrates our ability to develop and deliver complete solutions for strategic projects in the power sector. By combining engineering, technology, manufacturing, and specialized services, we help enhance the efficiency and reliability of generation assets, supporting our customers in building an increasingly robust and sustainable energy matrix.”
Alongside the expansion, ENGIE Brasil is continuing a modernisation programme at Jaguara that began in July 2023. The programme involves investments of more than BRL500 million, with approximately BRL150 million invested to date.
The modernisation includes upgrades to the plant’s four existing generating units while maintaining the current installed capacity of 424MW. The work is scheduled for completion in 2029 and is intended to extend the plant’s operational life while improving reliability and efficiency.
