Electricity Minister Alí Rodríguez Araque said in relation to the proposed sale of electricity by the Colombian government, that Venezuela does not rule out any option. However, he added that it was early to make a decision regarding the offer of the neighboring country, as President Hugo Chávez's government is not aware of the nature thereof.

"It is not safe to jump the gun," said the official. "If there is any proposal from Colombia, we will assess it. We have also received some proposals from Brazil. As you know, we are exporting electricity to Brazil, up to 80 megawatts. They have set up thermal power capacity. They told us that they can stop importing energy and (that they are willing to) export power to Venezuela (…) If and when they submit a proposal, we will consider it."

The Venezuelan government is pondering all these options in order to secure power supply to the population, said Rodríguez during a press conference on Tuesday at the office of the Vice President.

New equipments
On the other hand, Rodríguez stressed that the Electricity Joint Chiefs of Staff examined on Tuesday the equipments that the Venezuelan government has purchased to generate power immediately in order to increase the thermal generation capacity by 4,000 megawatts this year. "The plants will produce over 1,200 megawatts by May. This could offset the decline of power generation in the Guri Dam, as a result of a lengthy drought."

Rodríguez reiterated that the government will continue implementing measures to reduce excessive power consumption in Venezuela. "If we do not correct the situation, this can lead us to a much more difficult situation, if the rate of decline of the water levels of Guri reservoir continues. We need the cooperation of heavy and medium-size consumers."

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas