Achievements reinforce the efficient operation of the plants in the areas of Quality, Environment and Health and Safety at work

Neoenergia's hydro power generation has achieved some accomplishments at the beginning of 2021, with the recertification and maintenance of ISO Standards that attest that the operation of the plants is efficient, respecting and protecting the Environment, and caring for the Safety and Health of people. Itapebi Hydro Power Plant (HPP), located in Bahia has undergone the recertification process, while Corumbá (GO) and Dardanelos (MT) HPPs carried out their first maintenance.

Certification refer to the scope of Operation and Maintenance of Standards -  ISO 9001:2015-Quality Management System, ISO 14001:2015-Environmental Management System, and ISO 45001:2018-Occupational Health and Safety Management System. “All six Neoenergia hydro power plants are certified within the same “Hydro Power Plant Operation and Maintenance" scope. “This reinforces our commitment of continuously seeking operational excellence by improving processes, respecting people and the environment," says Neoenergia's Operations and Hydraulic Engineering superintendent, José Paulo Werberich. 

Each ISO Certification is valid for three years, which is why the recertification obtained now by Itapebi HPP was necessary, since the first achievement happened in 2017. “The auditor must go through all the requirements of the standard in order to make this happen. Among them, the operational planning and control, in which the maintenance is thoroughly inspected, from the purchase of inputs to the completion of the final work, as well as meeting the requirements of the delivery of the energy generated", explains Neoenergia's quality engineer, Luciane Rebollo. The audits in Itapebi were carried out remotely during 2020, due to the pandemic, and had an on-site phase in January 2021.

Corumbá and Dardanelos Hydro Power Plants were certified under the three standards in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and have now undergone cycle maintenance. The procedure is carried out on an annual basis, until recertification takes place after three years. Corumbá is located in the city of Luziânia, in Goiás state (GO), with an installed capacity of 96.45 MW; and Dardanelos is located in the city of Aripuanã, in Mato Grosso, and has an installed capacity of 261 MW. Itapebi is on the Jequitinhonha River, on the border between the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais, with an installed capacity of 462 MW.

Learn more on the three standards:

ISO 9001: 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. The process definition avoids the occurrence of waste, both in human resources and material and technological resources. It is also focused in the compliance with laws and development of human resources.

ISO 14001: 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. In addition, the energy generated in HPPs is renewable and contributes to combat climate change.

ISO 45001: 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.