Venezuela to spend $15 billion on energy
CARACAS, VENEZUELA - Venezuela's government says it will spend $15 billion over the next five years to increase electricity production.
Energy Minister Ali Rodriguez said the projects will add 15,000 megawatts by 2015.
Venezuela imposed power and water rationing in December because a severe drought is threatening to drop water levels behind the important Guri Dam to critical lows. The dam supplies most of the country's electricity.
Critics have accused President Hugo Chavez of failing to invest enough in electrical projects to meet growing demand.
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Imported coal volumes up 17% during Apr-Oct as domestic supplies shrink
WASHINGTON - The receipt of imported coal by thermal power plants has shot up by 17.6 per cent during April-October. The coal import volumes refer to the power plants monitored by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), a power update report from CARE Ratings showed.
Imports escalated as domestic supplies by Coal India Ltd (CIL) and another state run producer- Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) dipped in the period. Rate of supplies by the two coal companies to the CEA monitored power stations stood at 80.4 per cent, indicating a shortfall of 19.6 per cent against the allocated quantity.
According to the study…
