Brazil Advances Tangará Project: New Transformers And 500 kV Line Upgrade Boost Reliability In Maranhão And Pará

The progress on the Tangará Project—part of Lot 03 from Transmission Auction No. 02/2022—marks an important step in strengthening Brazil’s electrical transmission network. In March, four new transformers at the Santa Luzia III Substation officially began commercial operation. Along with the completed sectioning of the 500 kV Açailândia–Miranda II C-1 (MA) transmission line at the same site, these upgrades improve the reliability and safety of energy supply for the region.

At the Santa Luzia III Substation, two large transformers, TR1 and TR2, were installed. Each offers a capacity of 450 MVA and operates at 500/230 kV. Additionally, two more transformers, TR3 and TR4, were added, each providing 100 MVA at 230/138 kV. Together, these units significantly increase the substation’s ability to handle growing electrical demand.

The Tangará Project as a whole is designed to boost the stability and capacity of power transmission between the North Region of Brazil and the Northeast Region of Brazil. Overall, the project includes the construction of 354 km of new transmission lines and adds 2,300 MVA of transformation capacity to the national system.

The investment for this set of improvements is estimated at R$ 1.1 billion. All project facilities are located across the states of Maranhão and Pará. The remaining works under the Tangará Project are expected to enter commercial operation by June of this year, continuing the expansion and modernization of Brazil’s energy infrastructure