Neoenergia, through its distributor Neoenergia Coelba (BA) has made a series of investments to strengthen the energy system in western Bahia. By the end of 2021, the distributor invested about R$125 million in the construction of three new projects in the region. The official delivery of these works took place this Tuesday (22), during the inauguration event of the newest project that will serve the local population: Rio do Algodão Substation, located in São Desidério.
The ceremony was attended by Neoenergia Coelba's leadership, the mayor of São Desidério, José Carlos de Carvalho, and invited authorities. "In 2021, Neoenergia Coelba invested more than R$ 2 billion in works in Bahia. Of this total, around R$400 million was allocated to the western region of the state. The volume of funds invested reinforces the distributor's commitment to continue investing in improving its operations throughout Bahia," said Luiz Antonio Ciarlini, Neoenergia Coelba's CEO.
Rio do Algodão Substation, where the event was held, has an installed power of 26.6 MVA, benefiting more than 40 thousand people. Additionally, 32 kilometers of power grid were built and 60 poles and 88 towers were installed These structures allowed the project to be energized and integrated into the electrical system.
Before Rio do Algodão, another substation was inaugurated in the region in recent months, SE Rio Grande III. The project has three feeders and, for its operation, 12 kilometers of distribution line and 105 poles were installed. The unit's installed power is also 26.6 MVA and will benefit more than 38 thousand residents in the region.
"Both substations have state-of-the-art technologies to reliably supply power to the distributor's customers in the region. Besides automatic reclosers and protection equipment, the projects can be monitored and controlled directly from our Integrated Operations Center, which is located in Salvador, reducing the time interval to solve possible incidents", explained Ana Paula Nobre, Neoenergia's High Voltage Expansion Superintendent.
The third project completed by the distributor in the West was the 138 kV Rio Grande II-Rio das Éguas Distribution Line. The new line is 127 kilometers long, passing through the towns of São Desidério and Correntina, and more than a thousand poles have been installed.
"The three new projects are highly important for our region's electrical system, enabling an increase in energy supply. Consumers and merchants in the urban area and farm owners in the rural area will benefit from an even more reliable energy source to expand their activities", analyzed Leonardo Silva, Superintendent of Western Operations.