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After 19 days of electricity blackout in Amapá, which has not yet been definitively resolved, President Jair Bolsonaro (without a party) today visited Macapá, the state capital, and made a defense of the action of the federal government in the face of the problem that left around 90%. of the population of Amapá in total darkness for four days.
In a speech, Bolsonaro affirmed that the Ministry of Mines and Energy created a crisis cabinet the day after the main blackout, which occurred on November 3, with visits from the minister, Bento Albuquerque, to the state.
He also cited the work of the Armed Forces, which have helped transport generators from out of state to Amapá to supply the electricity supply in an emergency manner.
“What would take around 90 days to reestablish, although it is not a federal commission, we sank, especially at the request of our president of the National Congress [e do Senado], Davi Alcolumbre, and today we can say that we are approaching 100% ”, said the President of the Republic.
Bolsonaro confirmed that the government will issue a Provisional Measure in the coming days to compensate the Amapá population affected by the lack of energy. “Amapá is Brazil and Brazil is Amapá,” he said.
The president did not give details of the initiative, but the Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, and Davi Alcolumbre (DEM-AP) said that the Provisional Measure will exempt all affected consumers in Amapá from paying the electricity bill, possibly for one month and retroactively.
The blackout paralyzed industries and commerce, caused losses of R $ 190 million, fueled violence and postponed the municipal elections in Macapá. Residents had burned appliances and merchants lost refrigerated stocks.
Bento Albuquerque said that the crisis group created studies the energy planning of Amapá and states with similar characteristics and intends to present a new energy plan in about 15 days. The minister added that the Ministry of Regional Development made R $ 21 million available and Petrobras will donate R $ 500 thousand in basic baskets to needy families in the state.
The president visited two substations
Together with the president of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre, elected by the state, Bolsonaro visited the Santana and Santa Rita substations, both in Macapá. Thermoelectric generators are expected to start supplying power to both substations starting today, according to the mines and energy ministry.
At one of the substations, without a mask, Bolsonaro pressed a button on one of the computers on the site and spoke with technicians and politicians, as well as taking photos.
Bolsonaro and Alcolumbre departed today, around 12:30, from Brasilia to Macapá. The return of the President of the Republic to Brasilia is scheduled for this afternoon.
Amapá suffered a blackout that left 90% of its population in darkness after a fire hit a substation concessioned to a private company, LMTE (Linhas de Macapá Transmissora de Energia). One transformer was totally damaged and the other partially damaged; days later, repaired. A third backup team had been in maintenance for months. In this way, the power to the people was cut off.
Power began to be restored on day 7, but on a rotating basis. A new blackout in Amapá occurred on the night of November 17. The parliamentarians demanded a greater inspection to Aneel (National Electric Power Agency). Senator Randolfe Rodrigues (Rede-AP) said the agency was informed of the concessionaire’s difficulties by the company itself at the beginning of the year. Aneel denies that he has relaxed his inspection.
The expectation of the Ministry of Mines and Energy is that another transformer transported from Laranjal do Jari to Macapá will come into operation next Thursday, November 26. Only then is the state expected to have more power availability than on November 3.
Bolsonaro is greeted by protesters and supporters
President Bolsonaro was received at the entrance of the Alberto Alcolumbre airport, in the central area of Macapá, by both protesters and supporters.
Some 150 protesters awaited the arrival of Jair Bolsonaro in an act that took place peacefully and was accompanied by a strong police apparatus of the Federal Highway Police and the Military Police.
Among the required guidelines are compensation to the population for the damage caused, the responsibility of those responsible for the blackout, the termination of the contract of the company responsible for the Macapá substation and extra emergency aid for the most affected population. The group also opposed the privatization of Companhia de Eletricidade do Amapá. Part of the group also yelled “Out, Davi,” in reference to the president of the Senate.
On the other hand, Bolsonaro’s supporters greeted him with banners thanking the federal government for its work to restore power to the state. The president’s supporters followed by train to Santana and then to the Santa Rita substation.
The President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro (no party), and the President of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (DEM-AP), at the Brasilia Air Base before embarking for Macapá
Image: Playback
Additional aid to Amapá residents is suspended at the request of the Union
Last night, judge I’talo Fioravanti Sabo Mendes, of the Federal Regional Court of Region I, accepted the Union’s request and suspended the payment of two more installments of R $ 600 as emergency aid for the residents of Amapá affected by the blackout. which started last day 3.
According to the AGU, the payment of the aid “would overload the public coffers, to the extent that it will lead to an estimated cost of more than R $ 418 million, without having, at the present time, a specific budgetary forecast.”
Visit in the middle of elections with brother of candidate Alcolumbre
Bolsonaro’s visit came after Alcolumbre’s invitation and in the midst of the postponement of the municipal elections in Macapá after a decision by the TSE (Superior Electoral Court). Alcolumbre’s brother, Josiel (DEM), is running for mayor.
According to an Ibope poll published on November 11, Josiel dropped nine points from the poll presented on October 28. The candidate now has 22% of the voting intentions and is technically tied with Patrícia Ferraz (Pode) and Dr. Furlan (Cidadania), both with 15%, after oscillating positively 4 points each. The margin of error is 4 percentage points more or less.
The political group Alcolumbre fears that the blackout will negatively impact Josiel’s campaign, especially because they have the support of Waldez Góes and the current mayor of Macapá, Clécio Luis (no party).
In a speech today, Davi Alcolumbre praised the federal government’s work on the blackout and claimed responsibility for the company responsible for the substation that caused the problem earlier this month.
