MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Energy crisis affects fishery industry

Fishery plants are suffering losses due to energy cuts

Electric energy cuts required by the national government affected operation levels for most of the country's fishery companies.

In Mar del Plata, Province of Buenos Aires, the electrical company Distributing Company for Atlantic Energy (EDEA) began sending e-mails to fishery companies that used more tan 300 kilowatts of electricity per hour advising them to comply with the energy saving measures. Up now 90 companies have been warned, among them, fishery companies, freezer-houses and even public organisms. Authorities from the Fishing Industry Chamber of Argentina (CAIPA) asserted that fishery plants, particularly the larger ones located in Mar del Plata, receive daily notices to reduce their consumption. Every day, a significant number of companies have to quit work as of 4:00PM," stated CAIPA president, Mariano Perez. The official said the measure seriously goes against the fishery industry since â€"unlike other industries- the fishery industry cannot reschedule production hours. "We work with perishable raw material. Other companies may be able to reschedule work hours, but in our case, it is a major complication," added Perez. The Head of EDEA Public Relations, Carlos Gastiazoro, explained that "for the time being, we are applying the Rational Use of Electricity Programme, which imposes fines on users that surpass their consumption compared to same period year 2003 (year taken as a benchmark)." Furthermore, he clarified that decrease in consumption is in the order of 40 per cent and has been enforced since last weekend, between 4:00PM to midnight. Perez confirmed to the La Capital that the fishery sector of Mar del Plata, is suffering "significant losses" due to the energy cuts decided by the Wholesale Electric Market Management Company (CAMMESA). In consequence to the national government's initiative, not only must these companies cut back on production, but also must lay off personnel. Faced with this situation, the head of CAIP announced that shortly a meeting will be held with the Council Directorate, where these issues will be analysed and possible solutions will be presented. In the province of Chubut, the President of the Co-operative for Public, Consumer, and Housing Services Rawson Ltd, Walter Soulages, confirmed that at first limited use was from 6:00PM to 10:00, but it is actually from 4:00PM to midnight. Among the industries located in this Patagonian province, the fishery companies suffer the major losses. (FIS)