Chavez Announces Energy Revolution in Venezuela

Chavez Announces Energy Revolution in Venezuela
Ahora.cu / 07-09-2006

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced the beginning of an energy revolution in his country and called on the entire nation to participate.

During an outdoor rally of supporters from different political parties and social movements, Chavez announced the creation of a system of energy generating units and the use of natural gas to produce electricity.

Chavez said that thanks to a gas pipeline currently being built, by March 2007 Venezuela will begin to receive 150 million cubic feet of gas daily from Colombia.

He said that besides being cheaper, this fuel contaminates less and will allow Venezuela to save 17,000 barrels of oil per day. At the current prices, he noted that the savings would amount to 360 million dollars a year which will be used for the development of the region and make Maracaibo one of the most important cities of the continent.

"This money is going to stay in Zulia. I have decided to use it to support development programs, replace huts with new housing and pave the streets."

Chavez also said that back-up power generators would be set up at health centers and important centers for the local economy. He said that 52 million inefficient light bulbs would be exchanged.

The president said that currently the majority of Venezuelan households use high consumption light bulbs and that the state will shortly be giving them new ones, free of charge, that use only a third of the energy.

(Taken from ACN)

http://www.ahora.cu/english/SECTIONS/international/2006/septiembre/07-09-06.htm