Baguari is the first hydro power scheme to be commissioned under the national Growth Acceleration Program "PAC". With this initiative, the government expects to increase Brazil's gross domestic product up to 5 per cent until 2010. One focus within the PAC program lies on the development of the electric power supply. Brazil has an abundance of water and rivers, therefore, hydro power plants will play a significant role in this scheme. To-date, more than 75 per cent of Brazil's electricity generation comes from hydro power. The investment to improve the country's infrastructure totals 235 billion US Dollar.

Voith Hydro's machines for this plant were manufactured completely in Brazil. The first of the four units had already been commissioned in September, being three months ahead of schedule. "The remaining units are subject to an ambitious schedule as well: Every month we will synchronize one unit to the grid and will, in all likelihood, be able to maintain our headstart of three months time", said Osvaldo San Martin, Chairman of the Board of Management of Voith Hydro São Paulo: "We are proud to contribute our share to the PAC with the design and manufacture of innovative generators and turbines for the hydro power projects of Baguari and Estreito."

Voith Hydro is a Group Division of Voith and - with a workforce of currently almost 4,500 employees and an order intake of almost 1,4 billion Euros in the business year 2007/2008 - belongs to the world-wide leading companies for hydro power equipment.

Voith is a global leader in the paper, energy, mobility and service industries. Founded on 1st January 1867, Voith employs 43,000, and has sales of 4.9 billion Euros. Operating from 290 locations worldwide, Voith is one of Europe's largest family-owned companies.