Brazilian power company CEMIG is to compete in the auction to build and operate the 3.15 GW Santo Antonio hydropower plant in the Amazon basin, according to BNAmericas.

The auction is scheduled to take place on October 30th. Other groups lined up to take part in the auction include Chesf, Furnas, Eletronorte and Eletrosul.

Santo Antonio is one component of the Madeira hydropower complex, which will have a total capacity of 3.3 GW when complete. The government is planning to hold an auction for the second plant – Jirau – in 2008, in addition to the transmission lines for Santo Antonio.

Federal power company Furnas is biding for Santo Antonio in a consortium led by Odebrecht, while Chesf will take part with Camargo Correa.