Challenges of implementing the Belo Monte scheme in Brazil

When the 11 233 MW Belo Monte scheme is complete, it is estimated that the plant will be able to provide clean and secure energy for 60 million consumers (approximately 18 million households). In this article, authors from the civil works consortium building the project share their experience in overcoming some of the challenges of a project on this scale. It is expected that the lessons learnt from the development of Belo Monte will be transferable to future hydropower projects in other parts of the world, such as Africa.