Brazil Lowers Belo Monte Reservoir Flow to Mitigate El Niño‑Driven Amazon Drought

Brazil has temporarily relaxed an environmental rule for the Belo Monte hydropower plant on the Xingu River, allowing its operator, Norte Energia, to lower the reservoir’s minimum flow from 300 to 100 m³/s until 30 November. The change aims to keep electricity production steady while sustaining the required water volume that Indigenous and riverine communities need for fishing, transport and daily life along the Volta Grande do Xingu. The reduced flow raises concerns about poorer water quality and potential impacts on aquatic life downstream. Norte Energia will monitor water quality and fish movements and report findings to regulators. IBAMA says significant social or environmental effects are not expected, but the measure will be reviewed after the dry season.