Sandinista Government Focuses on Energy
The Nicaraguan energy sector that has undergone a serious crisis with long and disrupted blackouts, is one of the Sandinista government main priorities today.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega considered the "original sin" was committed by neoliberal governments that privatized electricity after the Sandinistas electoral defeat in 1990.

To change the situation and safeguard national interests, the new authorities announced a revision of concessions granted to energy enterprises, which are generating less energy than promised.

According to Nicaraguan State Electricity Enterprise (ENEL) president Ernesto Martinez, the previous Enrique Bolaños government "forgot the concept of State and devoted itself to work in favor of private enterprises."

The official told El Nuevo Diario that State authorities only managed to introduce 180 megawatts to the national electricity system in the last five years.

Ortega warned publicly that the government will take measures against foreign enterprises if they continue threats to leave the country without electricity.

To reduce the current deficit of 120 megawatts per hour the Sandinista government appealed to Venezuelan and Cuban solidarity, within the framework of the Bolivarian Alternative of the Americas (ALBA), an integration project Nicaragua has recently joined.

As part of the cooperation agreements, Caracas handed over 32 electrical plants with generating capacity of 60 megawatts which installation will be done by Cuban specialists.