The event also marked the announcement of the signing of the Reserve Energy Contract (CER), guaranteeing the continuity of the CTJL's operation until 2040
Six decades ago, a dream fueled by mineral coal was beginning to come true in Capivari de Baixo. On July 3rd, the Jorge Lacerda Thermoelectric Complex (CTJL) celebrates 60 years as the largest in Latin America, a symbol of energy innovation, regional development and the strength of the South of Santa Catarina.
To celebrate this trajectory, a special event was held this Thursday (3), at the CTJL itself, bringing together employees, partner companies, political authorities, press and guests. During the ceremony, a commemorative plaque was inaugurated, which will be installed at the UTLA, eternalizing the names of the directors and directors of Diamante Energia, in addition to the mayors of Capivari de Baixo and Tubarão — cities directly linked to the history of the Complex.
“As mayor of Tubarão and president of Amurel, I thank Diamante Energia for guaranteeing quality energy for the South of Santa Catarina, contributing to energy security in Brazil. We are proud to see this structure continue to operate with efficiency and environmental responsibility, creating jobs, strengthening the economy and looking to the future with sustainability,” said Esténer Soratto.
The president of Diamante Energia's Board of Directors, Jorge Nemr, took the opportunity to announce something much awaited by the company and the entire production chain: the signing of the Reserve Energy Contract (CER). The contract ensures the continuity of the Just Energy Transition process, provided for in Law No. 14,299, of January 2022, during the period from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2040.
“In the week that the CTJL celebrates its diamond anniversary, Diamante and the Electric Energy Trading Chamber (CCEE) signed the CER, which will guarantee us, at least until 2040, that the Complex will continue to operate and grow. Not only the complex, but the entire production chain. Today, we celebrate 60 years, but in fact, we are celebrating 75 years — it's 60 years of history and another 15 years of future,” adds Nemr.
As a symbolic way to rescue the living history of the CTJL, an old clock located in the engine room, just above the UTLA control rooms 1 and 2, was also revitalized. The equipment, which started working again especially for the commemorative date, had been stopped for almost three decades. At the time of its installation, in 1965, the system had three clocks: one in the control room, one in the engine room, and a central clock that coordinated them. Today, only this one survives, which now regains its place as a mark of time and the memory of generations of workers who passed through the Complex.
For the mayor of Capivari de Baixo, Claudir Bitencourt, the municipality is proud to host the largest coal-fired thermal power plant in Latin America. “On this very special date, we should be grateful for all the opportunities in the areas of social development, income generation, culture and so many others, that the municipality has experienced over time, thanks to this successful venture,” she adds.
Pedro Litsek, President of Diamante Energia, among other points, highlighted some actions implemented by the company since taking over the CTJL: “Since taking over the management of the Complex, in a short period of time, Mayor Esténer, we have structured new areas and competencies: Transformer, Protection, Calibration Laboratories, Legal, Communication, New Business, Social Responsibility, Commercialization and Regulation. Mayor Claudir, we also implemented a new business management system, the ERP, which brought more efficiency and integration to our operation. In addition, we increased our number of employees: there were about 331 and today, we are approximately 378,” he emphasized.
Historia
The CTJL was founded in 1965, with the generation of the first watts from mineral coal, an abundant resource in the Santa Catarina coal region. Its foundation began with the creation of Sotelca in 1957, authorized by law during the administration of Juscelino Kubitschek. The plant was named after Jorge Lacerda, former governor of Santa Catarina and defender of the industrialization of the state.
Over the years, the Complex underwent structural expansions, such as the entry of units 3 and 4 in 1976 (UTLA), followed by the construction of Thermoelectric Unit B (UTLB) and, later, of units 5, 6 and 7. The last one, inaugurated in 1997, crowned the CTJL as the largest thermoelectric complex in Latin America, with an installed capacity of 740 MW.
In addition to being a protagonist in the electricity sector, the CTJL has always been at the forefront in terms of environmental commitment. Since the 1980s, with the installation of electrostatic precipitators, the Complex has continuously invested in environmental mitigation technologies and responsible use of coal.
After the privatization in the 1990s, the management of the CTJL passed through companies such as Gerasul and Tractebel, until it arrived, in 2021, with Diamante Geração de Energia, currently responsible for the operation. Since then, Diamante has focused on efficiency, sustainability and the valuation of people, consolidating the role of the Complex as a strategic pillar in the Brazilian electrical system.
Check out some photos from the event below:
