Observers of this country’s high-profile political gyrations might be forgiven for missing a disturbing development on the local energy front: hydropower- and fossil fuel-rich Venezuela is running low on electricity. The evidence has come in a variety of forms—blackouts in eastern Venezuela, emergency electricity purchases from Colombia and the start of a government study to determine if power rationing will be necessary. How could Venezuela, of all countries, lack electricity? The answer lies largely with Venezuela’s Guri Dam, the second biggest hydropower producer in Latin America. The dam, which together with the downstream Macagua hydroelectric complex generates 70% of Venezuela’s power, has seen its water levels sink to an all-time low. Meteorologists say there just hasn’t been enough rain. They forecast... [Log in to read more]