Brazil's ex-energy minister could become 'most powerful woman in the world'

The favourite to win Brazil's election this month is Dilma Rousseff (left). The Daily Mail says this would make her the most powerful woman in the world.

Rousseff was originally Secretary of State for Energy in the state government of Rio Grande do Sol (she went on to become National Minister for Energy and Chief of Staff in Lula's government).

Two Ashden Award winners come from Rio Grande do Sol.

CRERAL supplies electricity via the grid to 6,300 mainly rural customers.

CRELUZ has built six micro hydro plants which supply electricity to an area of 12,000km2, benefiting over 80,000 people.

Rousseff has been an active advocate for getting rural customers connected to the electricity grid, and set up the funding programme from which CRELUZ benefitted.

The Ashden Awards welcomes more applicants from Brazil. As we tweeted today:

O prêmio líder mundial para energia sustentável convida candidaturas para 2011 - Please RT through Brazilian networks! http://bit.ly/bQNqR8