The Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, will make a speech on national radio and television this Monday (28), at 20 pm, to explain the current water situation in Brazil. Scheduled to last 4 minutes and 40 seconds, the speech should address the decision for maintenance of the red flag at level 2 in July, due to the drought that affects the main river basins of the SIN (National Interconnected System).
This Tuesday (29), the management of ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency) will also hold a meeting to define a review of the values of the tariff flags for the period 2021/2022. During the speech, there is also an expectation that Albuquerque will comment on the effects of the water crisis on the security of the country's energy supply and talk about the government's strategies to avoid the need for rationing.
Last week, the minister said the government planned send a MP to the National Congress (provisional measure) to create a collegiate body capable of taking action to address the water crisis. Brazil is currently experiencing the worst water crisis in 91 years, with critical levels of water reserves in its strategic reservoirs. The problem has been spreading since October of last year.
In the meantime, the Federal Government has already had to import energy from neighboring countries, such as Argentina and Uruguay, and approve orders to activate thermoelectric plants to ensure that there are no shortages of energy in Brazilian homes. Albuquerque is also expected to speak out about the possibility of “voluntary rationing” of water and energy and will reassure the population that the country’s energy supply is secure.
