Brazil probes further damage to electric grid

Seven power transmission line towers have been damaged — four of which were knocked down — since 8 January, according to Brazilian authorities.

Brazil is investigating whether the incidents can be classified as "acts of vandalism" connected to the events on 8 January, when supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro stormed the country's congress, presidential palace and supreme court in Brasilia.

The most recent incident was in Rondonia state on 14 January. A transmission tower fell as a result of the damage. Electricity regulator Aneel expects to repair the connection and restore service by 19 January.

Two other towers fell in Rondonia state on 8 and 9 January. Additionally, a tower in Parana state fell on 9 January. All three towers have been reconnected to the grid.

Two transmission towers in Sao Paulo state and one in Parana were also damaged, but none of the three towers were knocked down.

Brazil's newly appointed mines and energy minister Alexandre Silveira met with justice minister Flavio Dino and federal police chief Andrei Augusto Passos Rodrigues to discuss protecting infrastructure.

Mines and energy ministry MME sent letters to the Sao Paulo, Rondonia and Parana state governments asking for preventive and investigative actions. The ministry also asked some of the country's largest transmission companies and Brazilian power transmission company association Abrate for preventive inspections to reinforce security — including electronic monitoring — and for contingency plans to quickly restore damaged equipment.

Silveira will meet with representatives from Aneel, power transmission company association Abrate, grid operator ONS and other sector companies on 17 January to discuss further actions to protect the grid.

In response to the first damaged towers and lines, ONS, MME and Aneel had established a committee to oversee Brazil's power system, with the goal of "maintaining the interconnected power system's security." The agencies will adopt actions that are traditionally implemented during special events, such as elections or major sporting events, they said.

By Rebecca Gompertz