The challenge
The year 2002 – Brazil suffers one of the severest droughts in its history. With the north-eastern part of the country relying primarily on hydroelectric power plants for its energy, power failures are waiting to happen. A task force is established to quickly develop different types of power plants. ARCADIS becomes part of a consortium that will produce and sell energy. And assembles a project management team that quickly builds a 166-MW power plant - Breitener - with local people, solving the region's need for social investments. A fruitful business begins but could quickly end with the expiration of the contract for selling energy in 2005.

The approach
To keep the successful Breitner plant operating, ARCADIS' consortium takes part in a bid to sell energy in the city of Manaus, wins it, and negotiates the transfer of the plant from one city to another. The logistics of this project are challenging. Ten groups of motors and generators - each 300 metric tons and 6 meters high -  have to be transported 5,700 kilometres eastward, with no adequate shipping harbor facilities nearby. Specials ships, cranes and a few hundred containers are contracted for transporting all the equipment over the Amazon River. Besides the exceptional shipping requirements, ARCADIS takes overall responsibility for the dismantling of the old power plant and the design and construction of the new plant.

The result
Within an extremely tight schedule of 8 months, two new power plants are constructed. Illuminating the beautiful city of Manaus. Generating power for the local inhabitants. Contributing to the ARCADIS network.