Fuel oil consumption associated with thermal power generation by the Venezuelan Electricity System (SEN) increased by 48 percent in December 2008-2009.

According to data issued by the National Management Center (CNG), consumption of fuel oil in December 2009 stood at 279,700 tons, while it totaled 188,900 tons throughout the same period of 2008.

In thermal power plants, the consumption of fuel oil increased by 60.71 percent between 2008 and 2009. In January-December 2008, the demand of fuel oil was 1.7 million tons (equivalent to 11.4 million barrels of oil), while it stood at 2.7 million tons in the same period of 2009 (equivalent to 18.1 million barrels of oil.)