It is owned by Campos Novos Energia S.A. ("Enercan"), a consortium made up of Brazilian power company CPFL Energia (formerly Companhia Paulista de Força e Luz) with 48.7%, Brazilian aluminum maker Companhia Brasileira de Aluminio (CBA) with 22.7%, metallurgy company Companhia Niquel Tocantins (CNT) with 20%, state-controlled companies Companhia Estadual de Energia Elétrica [pt] (CEEE) with 6.5% and Centrais Elétricas de Santa Catarina S.A. ("Celesc") with 2%.

The dam builder was a consortium led by Brazilian construction company Camargo Corrêa and engineering consultants Engevix [pt].

A major break caused the water to begin to run out after a tunnel collapsed on 20 June 2006.

[3] Following this discovery, hidden by the partners of the project, it appeared that these companies had maltreated the local populations.

An investigation into the human rights violations was launched by United Nations Organisation.