itaipu ·
Itaipu opens spillway gates to release water for safety
Marco Três newsroom · edited by Annie Grellmann
Binational opens spillway after reservoir level rises to 220.30 meters
Itaipu Binacional opened the spillway gates yesterday afternoon, starting at 7:30 PM, as a preventive measure after the reservoir level reached 220.30 meters, close to the maximum allowed limit. The action was necessary due to intense rainfall in the upper river region and low current energy consumption in Paraguay and Brazil.
The scheduled opening of the spillway gates occurred to prevent possible reservoir overflow. According to Binacional, the situation resulted from two main factors: heavy rainfall in the upstream power plants and the absence of demand for increased energy production in the electrical systems of Paraguay and Brazil.
With the reservoir at very low storage capacity, all water volume entering above capacity must exit immediately. Since the systems do not require greater generation at this time, water cannot be channeled through the turbines to produce more electricity. Thus, letting it flow through the spillway is the only safe alternative.
Binacional guaranteed that energy supply to both countries remains fully assured.
Source: La Nación
Frequently asked questions
- What reservoir level triggered the gate opening?
- The reservoir reached 220.30 meters, just centimeters below the maximum allowed limit.
- Why didn't Itaipu use the water to generate more power?
- The electrical systems of Paraguay and Brazil do not need increased power generation at this moment.
- Was the power supply affected?
- No. The Binational confirmed that the power supply for Paraguay and Brazil is fully guaranteed.
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Content verified by the newsroom based on an official source: La Nación (PY). Last checked: 6/29/2026. Found something inaccurate? We fix it fast. How we work.
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