The Brazilian geophysical-morphologic and the flora and fauna diversities, associated to the territorial extension (8,500,000km{sup}2), with the most different climatic conditions provide the country with a vast diversity of natural resources that allows catering for the needs and welfare of a population of 161 million inhabitants that consumed 10.3EJ (1018J) of energy (64GJ per capita) in 1998. The total reserve of non- renewable energy of Brazil is estimated in 251.4EJ and it counts with an additional of 10.7EJ/year of hydraulic energy, besides other renewable sources such as reforestation and sugarcane. Now, Brazil imports part of the consumed energy, especially of petroleum origin (40%), metallurgical coal (99%) and electric energy (10%). However, the recent discoveries of petroleum in the continental shelf may make the country self-sufficient in energy. For the next millennium, the Brazilian energy policy seeks to assure a sustainable development, energy efficiency, and to stimulate the use of renewable and clear energy to mitigate the local pollution and greenhouse effect at global level.
展开▼
