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In 1989, Eletronorte admits that it no longer uses indigenous names and announces that Kararaô would be called Belo Monte.
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In 1994, a new project is presented with the objective of reducing the resistance of environmentalists and foreign investors. Significant changes are made, such as the reduction of the plant’s reservoir from 1225 km2 to 400 km2 and the non-flooding of the Paquiçamba Indigenous Area.
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In 1995, the National Privatization Program modified the legislation on public services to condition concessions to bidding processes and remove large consumers from the concessionaires’ commercial monopoly, ensuring free access to the transmission and distribution systems.
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In 1995, two laws came into force: Law 8987/95, which created conditions to encourage the participation of private capital and competition in the construction of new projects, and Law 9074/95, which brought legal bases for large energy consumers interested in purchasing energy regardless of the generating company in the respective region.
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In 1996, the Brazilian government created the regulatory agency National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL), and the National Electricity System Operator (ONS), the Wholesale Energy Market (MAE) and the Independent Energy Producer (PIE), privileging expansion of the sector through private capital.
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Also, in 1996, the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) and the state-owned enterprise Eletrobrás promoted a bid to choose consulting companies to prepare the Brazilian Electricity Sector Restructuring Project.
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In May 1998, Law 9648/98 was enacted, aiming at the restructuring of Eletrobrás and its subsidiaries.
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In 1999, the Expansion Planning Coordinating Committee (CCPE) was created to lead the planning of the expansion of the system, taking over the tasks of the former Electrical Systems Planning Coordinating Group.
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In 2000, the Pluriannual Plan 2000/2003 is presented incorporating Belo Monte as a strategic work to increase the energy supply in the country and as a structuring project for the Development Axis – Madeira/Amazonas.
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In May 2001, during a time of crisis and electricity rationing, the MME announced an emergency plan worth USD 30 billion to expand the energy supply. The government planned to build 15 hydroelectric power plants, including Belo Monte.
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2001 was also marked by the issuing of the Provisional Measure MP 2152-2, also known as “ MP do Apagão ” (MP of the blackout), which, among other things, determines that Conama establishes simplified licensing for projects in the electricity sector with low environmental impact.
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Resolution n. 02, of the National Council of Energy Policy (CNPE), enacted on September 17, 2001, defines Belo Monte as a project of strategic interest in planning hydroelectricity expansion until 2010. It recommends that studies on the environmental impact and multiple uses of reservoir waters be carried out with the participation of the ministries of the mines and energy (MME), environment (MMA), planning (MPOG), development (MDIC), the regulatory agency of the electricity sector (ANEEL), and the regulatory agency of the water sector (ANA).
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In March 2002, CNPE created a working group to prepare a viability plan for Belo Monte.
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In 2002, Eletronorte organized, at the University of Brasilia, the seminar “Economic Dynamism and Environmental Conservation: a Challenge for Belo Monte... and for everyone,” aiming to subject the Belo Monte Region’s Sustainable Development Plan (PDSBM) and the Regional Insertion Plan (PIR) to public evaluation.
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In 2003, Luiz Pinguelli Rosa assumed the presidency of Eletrobrás, stating that the Belo Monte construction project would be discussed and solutions for economic and social development around the dam would be on the agenda.
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In 2004, Luiz Pinguelli Rosa publicly reaffirmed his willingness to build Belo Monte.
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On March 15, 2004, Laws 10847/04 and 10848/04 created a new model for the Electricity Sector, creating the Energy Research Company (EPE) and a new framework of rules for the commercialization of electricity in a profound restructuring of the expansion planning of electrical systems.
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In 2008, Belo Monte becomes a project of the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC).
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In July 2008, the CNPE defined the Hydroelectric Use (AHE) of Belo Monte as the only hydroelectric use to be explored on the Xingu River, through CNPE resolution 06/2008.
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In 2009, FUNAI authorizes the construction of the power plant, affirming to IBAMA that it considers the project viable, with conditions applied.
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On December 10, 2009, the Federal Court suspends licensing and requests further public hearings. On the 11 of December, the law injunction was overthrown, and IBAMA returned to analyze the project. Without the prior license of this agency, the federal government was prevented from carrying out the concession bid, scheduled for December 21.
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In February 2010, the Ministry of the Environment authorizes the construction of the Belo Monte plant with the publication of the environmental license.
