Current progress at the Belo Monte hydro project, Brazil

The Belo Monte run-of-river powerplant is under construction on the lower reach of the Xingu river, in northern Brazil. When completed in December 2019, Belo Monte will have 24 generating units with a total installed capacity of 11 233.1 MW, making it the largest wholly Brazilian hydropower plant and the fourth in the world, in terms of installed capacity. Since April 2016, 7566.4 MW have already been installed with six bulb and 12 Francis turbines in commercial operation. The authors give the latest update on the achievements of the project, along with a description of the Belo Monte project as a whole.