MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuela has ceased to supply power to a Brazilian northern state

Venezuela broke its contract with Eletronorte, energy minister Albuquerque told a Congressional hearing

Brazil Mines and Energy Minister Bento Albuquerque said that Venezuela had not complied with its contract to supply the northern state of Roraima with energy since March 7. Roraima is a neighbor of Venezuela and an international bridge has become an escape way for thousands of Venezuelans fleeing from the Nicola Maduro regime and the lack of food and medicines.

Venezuela broke its contract with Eletronorte, a subsidiary of Brazilian state-run electricity company Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA, Albuquerque told a Congressional hearing, without providing details.

The minister repeated that Brazil was working to start building a transmission line to connect Roraima to the rest of the Brazilian power grid in the second half of the year for completion in 2021, so that it was not reliant on Venezuela.

As the Venezuela’s economy has collapsed, the country has experienced widespread, intermittent electricity blackouts.

Brazil will, in addition, auction public contracts in May for supplying Roraima with renewable energy such as wind and solar, with those projects set for completion in 2021, also to replace energy from Venezuela, Albuquerque said.