The Brazilian government has formalized a restructuring of the Board of Directors of Itaipu Binacional. By decree published in an extra edition of the Official Gazette, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva appointed Finance Minister Darío Durigan, Chief of Staff Minister Miriam Belchior, and Planning Minister Bruno Moretti as members of the hydroelectric plant's highest collegiate body.
The new directors will serve until May 16, 2028, in accordance with Diplomatic Note No. 439 of December 20, 1993, and Articles 8, paragraph “a”, and 11 of the Itaipu Binational Statute (Annex A of the Treaty). Durigan and Belchior formally replace former ministers Fernando Haddad and Rui Costa, respectively.
The Board of Directors consists of 12 members — six Paraguayans and six Brazilians. The appointments come amid ongoing negotiations of Annex C, which defines the financial bases and the price of the energy generated by the plant.
Prior to these changes, Lula had appointed civil engineer Djalma Vando Berger as the new administrative director of Itaipu, replacing Iggor Gomes Rocha, who had held the position since March 2023. Rocha, an expert in Administrative Law, did not leave the hydroelectric plant: he became a full member of the Board of Directors.
Completing the cycle of adjustments, the Brazilian government removed former state deputy of Paraná, Michele Caputo Neto, from the board. Thus, the Brazilian seats on the Board are now occupied by Durigan, Belchior, Moretti, Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira, Minister of Management and Innovation in Public Services Esther Dweck, and Iggor Gomes Rocha.
The Brazilian executive board remains under the leadership of Director-General Enio Verri, and diplomatic representation in institutional deliberations is handled by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira.
Paraguayan authorities are closely monitoring the internal reorganization of the co-owner, while both countries maintain active diplomatic channels for the revision of Annex C. The parity of 12 members on the Board requires consensus between the two sides of the Paraná River for any strategic decision.