Venezuela faces risk of devastating power collapse

CARACAS, Venezuela

The entire South American country of 28 million people depends to a large degree on the massive Guri Dam, which holds back the Caroni River in southeastern Bolivar state. It supplies 73 percent of the country’s electricity by feeding the massive Guri hydroelectric plant – the world’s third-largest in power output – along with two other smaller plants.

Chavez said that the dam’s water level is now about 33 feet (10 meters) below where it was last year, and if it falls 82 feet (25 meters) more before the dry season ends, “we would be at a standstill.”

Chavez said that would force the government to suspend the generation of about 5,000 megawatts of power – causing blackouts for large swaths of Venezuela.

“We can’t allow the water to reach this level,” Chavez said. He said officials are aiming to prevent it by diminishing power generation at Guri and decreasing the flow of water that moves through the turbines.

AP