Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SAOPAULO1059
2006-10-05 13:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Sao Paulo
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR INAUGURATES THE USAID-SPONSORED PARAISOPOLIS
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UNCLAS SAO PAULO 001059
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC, EB
AID/W FOR LAC/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV EFIN EAGR EAID BR
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR INAUGURATES THE USAID-SPONSORED PARAISOPOLIS
ELECTRICITY PROJECT
UNCLAS SAO PAULO 001059
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC, EB
AID/W FOR LAC/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV EFIN EAGR EAID BR
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR INAUGURATES THE USAID-SPONSORED PARAISOPOLIS
ELECTRICITY PROJECT
1. Ambassador Sobel participated in a September 27 ceremony to
inaugurate the USAID Paraisopolis Slum Electrification and Loss
Reduction (SELR) Program. Close to 100 people attended the
ceremony. In his comments, the Ambassador emphasized the importance
of the project itself and the rapport between both United States and
Brazil in similar endeavors. The Ambassador praised USAID's support
of the project while simultaneously highlighting the significance of
the private sector involvement. The ceremony was attended by the
project's private sector partners and others, including
AES-Eletropaulo President Eduardo Jos Bernini, International Cooper
Association (ICA) Regional Director Glycon Garcia Junior, USAID/EGAT
Energy Team Leader Simone Lawaetz, representatives from the City of
Sao Paulo (municipality),SEHAB (housing),SABESPE (water utility),
ANEEL and CSPE (electricity regulatory bodies),NGOs, community
leaders, politicians, and consultants.
2. Recognizing the very large, growing number of slum residents
lacking legal and affordable access to electricity in developing
countries, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID),in
cooperation with the International Copper Association (ICA),
launched the SELR Program in October 2005. Since then, SELR has
selected two cities in two countries (Sao Paulo and Mumbai, India)
in which to develop, test and evaluate sustainable and
widely-replicable approaches for increasing access to electricity
services for low-income, urban consumers.
3. In Brazil, AES-Eletropaulo (AES),USAID, ICA, and Nexans-Brazil
(a leading global cable manufacturer) are working to regularize
electricity services in Parasopolis, a favela (slum) in the middle
of Sao Paulo. It is the second largest favela in Sao Paulo and, like
most other favelas, is an informal community that lacks most
municipal services and is home to families that migrated from rural
areas over the years. Located in a large ravine, Paraisopolis has a
physically challenging geography and is surrounded by middle- and
upper-income residential areas.
4. The total cost of the Pilot is estimated to be about USD 1.85
million. USAID is providing USD 429,000. Also, SELR Program is
currently seeking complementing funds to develop a sustainable
mechanism for making legal electricity service affordable by
replacing highly inefficient refrigerators and other appliances with
new, efficient ones. Negotiations with Whirlpool, which has
demonstrated interest in working with this partnership, are
currently ongoing. Whirlpools participation may include the
development of a scheme for households to repay Whirlpool for an
efficient appliance using cost savings from decreased electricity
bills, rebate programs, and the design of an efficient refrigerator
that meets the specific needs of favela households.
5. This cable was coordinated with Embassy Brasilia and cleared by
Ambassador Sobel.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC, EB
AID/W FOR LAC/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV EFIN EAGR EAID BR
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR INAUGURATES THE USAID-SPONSORED PARAISOPOLIS
ELECTRICITY PROJECT
1. Ambassador Sobel participated in a September 27 ceremony to
inaugurate the USAID Paraisopolis Slum Electrification and Loss
Reduction (SELR) Program. Close to 100 people attended the
ceremony. In his comments, the Ambassador emphasized the importance
of the project itself and the rapport between both United States and
Brazil in similar endeavors. The Ambassador praised USAID's support
of the project while simultaneously highlighting the significance of
the private sector involvement. The ceremony was attended by the
project's private sector partners and others, including
AES-Eletropaulo President Eduardo Jos Bernini, International Cooper
Association (ICA) Regional Director Glycon Garcia Junior, USAID/EGAT
Energy Team Leader Simone Lawaetz, representatives from the City of
Sao Paulo (municipality),SEHAB (housing),SABESPE (water utility),
ANEEL and CSPE (electricity regulatory bodies),NGOs, community
leaders, politicians, and consultants.
2. Recognizing the very large, growing number of slum residents
lacking legal and affordable access to electricity in developing
countries, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID),in
cooperation with the International Copper Association (ICA),
launched the SELR Program in October 2005. Since then, SELR has
selected two cities in two countries (Sao Paulo and Mumbai, India)
in which to develop, test and evaluate sustainable and
widely-replicable approaches for increasing access to electricity
services for low-income, urban consumers.
3. In Brazil, AES-Eletropaulo (AES),USAID, ICA, and Nexans-Brazil
(a leading global cable manufacturer) are working to regularize
electricity services in Parasopolis, a favela (slum) in the middle
of Sao Paulo. It is the second largest favela in Sao Paulo and, like
most other favelas, is an informal community that lacks most
municipal services and is home to families that migrated from rural
areas over the years. Located in a large ravine, Paraisopolis has a
physically challenging geography and is surrounded by middle- and
upper-income residential areas.
4. The total cost of the Pilot is estimated to be about USD 1.85
million. USAID is providing USD 429,000. Also, SELR Program is
currently seeking complementing funds to develop a sustainable
mechanism for making legal electricity service affordable by
replacing highly inefficient refrigerators and other appliances with
new, efficient ones. Negotiations with Whirlpool, which has
demonstrated interest in working with this partnership, are
currently ongoing. Whirlpools participation may include the
development of a scheme for households to repay Whirlpool for an
efficient appliance using cost savings from decreased electricity
bills, rebate programs, and the design of an efficient refrigerator
that meets the specific needs of favela households.
5. This cable was coordinated with Embassy Brasilia and cleared by
Ambassador Sobel.
MCMULLEN