Guatemalan Foresees
Electricity Crisis
The Guatemalan
government warned
Wednesday this country
is heading for a crisis
in generation,
transportation and
distribution of
electricity in the short
term and called all its
organizations to adopt
prevention measures.
One of the urgent
projects is the
Guatemalan-Mexican
inter-connection, which
would contribute 200
additional megawatts,
but confronts serious
difficulties in
completion, said
Guatemalan Energy and
Mining Minister Romeo
Rodriguez.
Also, they are trying to
attract investments for
renewable energy
programs, like
hydroelectric plants and
replacement of oil with
cheaper energy sources,
such as coal.
Guatemala has a great
number of rivers with
abundant water volume
and sharp falls,
especially in the high
western plane in the
south, but only 52
percent of the national
electricity is produced
in this way.
Most electricity is
produced by oil
combustion, so Guatemala
has to purchase oil
abroad, at continually
higher cost.
The national energy
system can no longer
meet the increased
demand, although only 42
percent of the national
territory is covered by
this service, with one
of the lowest rates in
Central America.
Rodriguez said that if
short and medium term
programs are not
implemented soon, an
unprecedented crisis
will be produced, with
severe effects for the
national economy.
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