MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuelans reluctant to save power and generation approaching critical situation

A power blackout in President Chavez’ future

The water level of Venezuela’s El Gurí dam which provides 75% of the country’s power is rapidly approaching the “critical zone” having dropped to 254 metres, just 14.45 metres from “collapse point” warned President Hugo Chavez.

“El Gurí keeps going down: it’s below the alarm zone and approaching the critical zone” said Chavez in a national broadcast together with his cabinet.

With the help of graphics Chavez said “we are still away from the collapse point, 14.45 metres lower” but “I guess we have water for another three months”.

According to the Chavez administration the lack of rainfall together with a massive increase in power consumption during the last few years have forced the implementation of a very strict plan to reduce consumption with the target of savings totalling 20%.

Electricity demand in Venezuela is 1.000 MW above daily supply, approximately 16.200 MW indicates official data.

A plan to cut energy consumption was enacted February 11 and targets mainly “big consumers” such as industries and retailing. If they do not comply with the 20% savings they could be exposed to heavy fines and 24 hours blackout.

But Chavez complained that the restrictions are not been complied.

He said “63% of big consumers from the industrial and commerce sectors plus government offices are not complying with the plan. This is very serious and we have to be very firm in enforcing sanctions”.

The plan also demands 10% savings from homes.

“We don’t want to cut power to nobody, what we want and need is savings, so let us all make a major effort”, said Chavez.

The opposition claims that besides climatic conditions, the Chavez administration has virtually done no investments in the power sector with generation almost at the same levels of a decade ago.

Besides because of the conflicting situation with neighbouring Colombia, gas exports from that country to Venezuela collapsed in January, complicating the energy emergency. US oil company Chevron said Colombian gas exports to Venezuela fell from 179 million cubic feet per day in January 2009 to 60 million cubic feet per day in 2010.

Victor Maldonado, head of the Caracas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services, said businesses in the capital Caracas were struggling to meet the requirements.

“All the businesses are taking the appropriate steps but we had warned that the goal was unattainable,” said Maldonado.

He added that area businesses were advised that if they are unable to cut energy demand by the end of the week, they could face a disruption in service.