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LATIN AMERICA |
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Venezuela Announces
Plan To Pull Plug
On Electricity Consumption
CARACAS - The Venezuelan
government announced a plan Thursday to
reduce 20 percent of the country's
electricity consumption, as part of its
measures to tackle a nationwide energy
shortage.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said this
plan, which required to save and use energy
efficiently, would also apply to
governmental organizations.
For example, the president's office, the
Miraflores Palace, would cut 50 percent of
its energy consumption, he said.
The electricity shortage in the country has
caused different groups to protest.
Chavez called on Venezuelans to turn off the
lights and not to leave the TV or other
electrical devices on when they were not
using them. In addition, he urged factories
and companies to use less electricity.
The president also decreed the creation of a
new electricity ministry and a strategic
commission to handle the country's
electricity sector.
The new ministry would ban the import of
products that are of low energy efficiency
and use excessive amounts of electricity.
Moreover, the country would distribute 50
million new energy-saving light bulbs.
A lack of rainfall to replenish the
headwaters of the Caroni River in Venezuela
has led to a grave situation that has
affected the country's electricity supply.
Reservoirs on this river generate 70 percent
of the county's electricity.
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