The Itaipú Binational Entity celebrates this Monday 52 years since its formal constitution, which took place on May 17, 1974, at the Hotel das Cataratas in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. On that occasion, the first boards of directors and executive board were installed, with equal composition between Paraguay and Brazil, initiating the administration of the future plant.
Civil works advanced rapidly: heavy machinery arrived in the second half of 1974, and in January 1975 excavations and concrete foundations began. The plant entered commercial operation in 1984, supplying energy to drive industrial and residential development in both countries.
Currently, Itaipú meets approximately 90% of Paraguay's electricity demand, managed by the National Electricity Administration (ANDE), and about 7% of Brazilian consumption. In 42 years of generation, out of the 3,143,581,000 MWh produced, the National Interconnected System (SIN) utilized only 10% – the remaining 90% were destined for Brazil. Of the total 1,571,790,500 MWh corresponding to Paraguay, the country used only 20%, ceding the rest to Brazil for an average compensation of US$ 4.5 per 1,000 kWh.
The plant holds the world record for annual generation, with 103,098,366 MWh in 2016, and received on November 1, 2024, the Guinness World Records certificate for “largest accumulated hydroelectric power generation,” after surpassing 3,038 million MWh since May 1984.
The first Board of Directors included, on the Paraguayan side, Alberto Nogués, Ezequiel González Alsina, Mario Coscia Tavarozzi, Andrés Gómez, Milciades Ramos Giménez, and Rogelio Cadogan. On the Brazilian side, Espedito de Freitas Resende, Mario Penna Bhering, Amyr Borges Fortes, Lucas Nogueira Garcez, Hélio Marcos Pena Beltrão, and Mauro Moreira took office. The first Executive Board was led by José Costa Cavalcanti and Paraguayan engineer Enzo Debernardi.
In parallel to generation, the entity maintains biodiversity conservation programs in the region. The celebration occurs amid negotiations considered not very transparent regarding Annex C of the plant's founding treaty.