Brazil links last unconnected state to its national electric grid

By Leticia Fucuchima and Lisandra Paraguassu

SAO PAULO, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Brazil connected the northernmost state of Roraima to its national electric grid, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday, as he called for greater energy integration in South America.

The connection of Roraima, which had been the last unconnected state in Brazil, will save around 600 million reais ($111 million) per year in fuel costs for local thermal plants while reducing carbon emissions, as most of the energy produced in Brazil comes from renewable sources, the government said in a statement.

"Brazil's interconnected energy system is a model for the world," Lula said at an event, adding that if other South American countries connected their systems to Brazil's, "no country in the region will ever again be left without energy."

While the system is still being tested, when it is completely implemented Roraima should gain more energy security, as it previously also relied on power from neighboring Venezuela.

Roraima's connection to the rest of Brazil has been a long time coming. The project for the transmission line began over 14 years ago and its construction suffered delays due to environmental concerns, as it crosses Indigenous lands.

"We're going to make this energy reach the Indigenous people, we're going to make the internet reach the Indigenous people because we don't want anyone left out of this," Lula said.

($1 = 5.4020 reais)