Brazil to Expand Energy Imports From Venezuela

Brazil to expand energy imports from Venezuela

BRASILIA, June 30 (Xinhua) — Brazil is to buy more energy from Venezuela under an agreement signed Friday between President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez, a senior official said here Monday.

According to Edison Lobao, minister of mines and energy, Brazil plans to import an average of 3,000 MW of electricity from Venezuela annually.

However, the agreement will not take effect soon, as the energy imports depend on the construction of a transmission line between the two countries.

The line will be financed by Brazil and Venezuela and its construction may take about three years, Lobao said.

Lula visited Chavez in Caracas, capital of Venezuela, on June 27. The two presidents signed an agreement on expanding energy links between Roraima in Brazil and Bolivar in Venezuela. The links were inaugurated nine years ago and are aimed at stimulating development in the Amazon rainforest region.

The minister also said Brazil’s electric energy firm Eletrobras will build 15 hydropower stations in Peru to produce a total of 20,000 MW of electricity for Brazil. Eletrobras and its Peruvian partners will take charge of the construction.

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