Baixo Iguaçu Hydro PowerPlant, located in
Paraná, was certified under the Operation & Maintenance scope for three ISO
standards, which address Quality Management (9001:2015), Environmental
(14001:2015) e Health and Safety at Work (45001:2018). The project started
operating in 2019 and, in one year, Neoenergia implemented the Integrated
Management System and obtained the certifications. The six hydro power plants
operated by the company - Baguari, Corumbá, Dardanelos, Itapebi and Teles Pires
- are certified under the same O&M scope.
With 350 MW of installed
capacity, Baixo Iguaçu HPP plays a key role in the strengthening of the
National Interconnected System (SIN) stability. Achieving ISO
certification is an important recognition of our management in Baixo Iguaçu, a
power plant that is an important asset for the Brazilian electrical system, in
addition to contributing to the regulate Iguaçu River flow and to the
preservation of the biodiversity of the Iguaçu National Park, a World Natural
Heritage Site”, says José Paulo Werberich, Neoenergia’s Hydro Operations and
Engineering superintendent.
ISO 9001:2015, one of the
certifications achieved by the hydro power plant, standardizes the process and
work so as to organize it with planning, goals and indicators, reducing the
number or errors and ensuring customer-oriented quality. Defining processes
avoids waste, both of human and material and technological resources, and also
offers an approach to risks and how to avoid them, always seeking continuous
improvement and customer satisfaction. It is also focused in the compliance
with laws and development of human resources.
ISO 14001:2015 specifies
the requirements of an Environmental Management System, aiming at increasing
the organization’s environmental performance, achieving results and complying
with legal requirements. This Standard also enables the organization to develop
a framing for environment protection, providing a fast response to constant
environmental changes.
Neoenergia is committed
with Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) promoted by the United Nations under 2030
Agenda and operates in Paraná with several projects started during the period
of Baixo Iguaçu construction and held during its operation. As an example, the Program for Rescue and
Scientific Use of Wild Life has carried out the scaring and rescue of animals in the plant's areas
of influence, minimizing their impacts. In addition, the energy generated in
the HPP is renewable and contributes to combat climate change.
The third certification was
under 45001:2018 Standard; It aims to provide safe and healthy working
environments for employees, and reinforces the importance of preventive
actions, evidencing that it is possible to be more effective and efficient when
taking early action, while addressing risks and opportunities.
Baixo Iguaçu certification
process was carried out over the course of 2020, with on-site and remote
audits. During the visits to the plant, in view of Covid-19 pandemic, strict prevention
protocols were put in place, including the testing of auditors and employees,
social distancing and mandatory use of masks, among others.
The other five plants
controlled by Neoenergia were certified in ISO 45001:2018 at the end of 2019.
In 2017, Itapebi e Teles Pires were the first group’s projects
that implemented ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 e OHSAS-18001:2007 Satandards. Corumbá obtained the certification in 2018
and Baguari and Dardanelos in the subsequent year. All of them
have an Integrated Management System, implemented for the scope of Operation and
Maintenance.
Neoenergia has a total installed
capacity of 3,030.6 MW in hydro power plants.
In addition to the six assets controlled by the company – Baixo Iguaçu,
Baguari, Corumbá, Dardanelos, Itapebi e Teles Pires – this number includes the
group’s share in Belo Monte Plant, the biggest hydro power plant in
Brazil.