Rio de Janeiro – Power consumption in Brazil grew by almost 10% in the first half this year, boosted by good performance across all market segments: residential, industrial, commercial and others. Industry was a highlight in terms of consumption growth. The data were culled from a report issued yesterday (22nd) by the Energy Research Company (EPE, in the Portuguese acronym), linked to the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy.
In June alone, Brazilians consumed 34,500 gigawatts per hour(Gw/h), representing growth of 11.1% over the same month last year. The EPE report shows that industrial consumption grew by 13.8% from January until June, due to increased consumption in the states of Bahia, Pará and Mato Grosso do Sul. In June 2009, industrial consumption rose by 15.1%, remaining at the same level as those of the last few months and of the period that preceded the international financial crisis. The highlight of the sector was the Southeast region. The highest rates of growth were recorded in the states of Espírito Santo (53%) and Minas Gerais (20%), which benefited from improvements in the extraction and metallurgical sectors, which comprise the economic foundation of the two states.
“These two states, in which consumption declined the most during the crisis, are also the ones in which recovery has been stronger, driving the regional results up,” says the EPE report.
According to the survey, residential consumption continued to grow strongly in June, and increased by 9.5% over the same month of 2009. Within a year, 2 million new consumers entered the market, an average of 166,000 per month. Average individual consumption grew by 3.9% compared with the same period last year. The highlights were the North and Northeast region.
“In the first half, there regions showed equally robust growth, above the national average, reflecting not only issues pertaining to temperature and thermal sensation, as well as the success of social programs such as Luz para Todos [Light for All] – which led the number of consumers to rise – and the scope of the Bolsa Família ( Family Purse),” according to the document.
Commercial consumption also grew, even during the most acute period of the international financial crisis, in 2009, and throughout 2010. The increase in comparison with June last year was 7.8%. According to the report, the North and Northeast regions grew the most, by 15.4% and 13.8%, respectively.
“The increased trade in these regions is a result of higher income levels, which translates into expansion and construction of shopping centres and establishment of large retail outlets,” explains the EPE report.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
