Lightless Nicaraguans Fear Future
While some capital neighborhoods are Wednesday without electricity after the closing of several power generating plants, there is panic in the country about the brutal rise in the international price of oil.

Local media reflects today some opinions by local politicians and businesspeople, who fear collapse of the national energy system if the government intervenes in this affair.

According to Deputy Agustin Jarquin, Nicaragua's electric system is in crisis and needs urgent attention by the Executive.

The member of the Energy and Infrastructure Commission at the National Assembly accused President Enrique Bolaños' government of protecting interests of larger transnationals and admitted the Parliament is also sitting on the fence.

According to expectations, Nicaragua, which uses an oil by-product known as "bunker" to produce 70 percent of the electricity it consumes, will spend over $600 million this year on crude oil in the international market.