May
26, 2004
US$959 million to be invested
in thermal electricity
(El Universal) - "Energy Vice Minister
and Cadafe President Nervis Villalobos ruled out
the possibility of an emergency in the national
electricity supply this year and next. The electricity
crisis in the country in the 2001-2003 period
created awareness in the population about the
proper use of energy, and resulted in major investment
spending on adapting the thermal electricity system,
which currently totals US$959.31 million.
The utilities and the regulating agency, meeting
in the Venezuelan Electricity Industry Chamber
reviewed recent problems in relation to the investment
and plant renewal planned for the next 20 years,
and growing demand (3.75% interannual) stemming
from demographic expansion and commercial and
industrial activities (oil projects, iron, steel
and aluminum projects). Opsis General Manager
Miguel Lara said that demand for power this year
is estimated at 14,150 megawatts and energy consumption
at 94,500 Gigawatts, an increase of 6%".
