Identification of obstacles in the environmental licensing process of thermoelectric power plants of the state of amazonas using the theory of restrictions, through the Current Reality Tree (ARA)

Environmental licensing seeks to promote sustainable development in the implementation of thermoelectric power plants, which have been characterized as causing environmental degradation. This process has been criticized, especially regarding the delay in the issuance of documents. For this reason, this research sought to study the causes that result in several problems in the environmental licensing process of the UTEs of Amazonas. To this end, the tool of the Theory of Constraints known as the Tree of Current Reality (ARA) was applied, together with interviews with the environmental technicians of the agency responsible for licensing and with the environmental consultants of the companies, aiming to identify root causes of the situation. It was verified the lack of mastery of the consultants of the companies regarding the specific subjects and procedures for licensing the activity, the areas chosen for the implementation of the plants and the lack of manpower. Based on this, it is proposed a pre-training of the consultants related to the licensing of the UTEs, the logistical planning of the companies aligned with the complexities of the Amazon territory, hiring of technical staff. This study contributes to the affirmation of the effectiveness of the ARA and to its application in other licensing processes of UTE's in other locations, since no studies were found that apply the ARA in the analysis of the licensing of Thermoelectric Power Plants, collaborating to improve the performance of this very important instrument that is the environmental licensing.