Venezuela may cut off electric supply to Roraima

Venezuela’s government-run energy firm Corpolec, which provides electric energy to the Brazilian state of Roraima, bordering Venezuela, is threatening to suspend its supplies for overdue payment. Roraima is the Brazilian state that receives most immigrants from the neighboring country.

Roraima is the only of Brazil’s 27 states not connected to the country’s national electric grid; rather, it relies on Venezuela for its supply of electric energy. A transmission line—whose construction was estimated to begin in 2011—taking energy to the northern state from the national network, is still not finished.

Eletronorte, the Brazilian electric utility in charge of the energy supply for northern Brazil, acknowledges a debt of $30 million with the Venezuelan company, but says the problem does not stem from lack of funds, but rather from “operational difficulties” in transferring $4 million every month for the energy supply—a service that has been regularly provided since 2001.

Thermal plants

Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy confirmed that Eletronorte has faced difficulties in paying Corpoelec and guaranteed that the federal government has worked to find an institutional solution to the problem. The ministry played down the possible impact of an energy suspension on the population of Roraima, as the demand would be met by resorting to thermal plants in case such an emergency arises.

Brazil’s National Electric Energy Agency, Aneel, reiterated that the plants in Roraima are in condition to provide the supply in case of suspension by Venezuela, but said this could lead to a hike in costs and higher energy bills throughout Brazil.