MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Power debacle in Venezuela: four-hours rotating black outs in major cities

Electricity Minister Angel Rodriguez warned of “a no return situation”

Venezuela announced electricity cuts on a rotating basis to sections of the country’s capital Caracas and major cities as the government deepens energy rationing amid a drought. In December major industries were forced to limit production.

Power will be cut for four-hour intervals in parts of Caracas starting Wednesday as dry weather reduces generating capacity at the nation’s largest utility, Javier Alvarado, president of government-run Electricidad de Caracas, said Tuesday on state television.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is increasing energy rationing amid an economic slump and falling oil revenue that prompted his government to devalue the nation’s currency 100% on January 8 for the first time in five years.

Venezuela is at risk for forced nationwide blackouts unless it stems declines in water levels at the reservoir supplying the nation’s largest utility warned Electricity Minister Angel Rodriguez.

“We could be entering a situation with no return” if the nation fails to save energy.

Chavez cut working hours for government employees last week and urged Venezuelans to save water and energy amid the country’s worst drought in about 50 years. The drought may last another five months, Rodriguez warned.

Output and refining at state-run oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA won’t be affected by the rationing, a PDVSA spokesman said Tuesday in an interview.

In December, Venezuela halted several production lines at state-run aluminium companies Alcasa and Venalum as well as two units at Siderurgica del Orinoco’s steel mill known as Sidor to save electricity.