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Brazil strives to avoid an energy crisis

Facing the most severe drought in almost half a century, dams in the northeast Brazil ended December at just 32% of capacity, below the 34% level considered sufficient to guarantee electricity supplies Facing the most severe drought in almost half a century, dams in the northeast Brazil ended December at just 32% of capacity, below the 34% level considered sufficient to guarantee electricity supplies.
By Abhishek Kumar 18 January 2013 0 24981

Brazil is facing the most severe drought in almost half a century, and the northeastern part of the country is the worst affected. Brazil relies heavily on hydropower to generate electricity – it constitutes almost 70% of the country’s electricity generation capacity. As a result of the drought, dams in the northeast ended December at just 32% of capacity, below the 34% level considered sufficient to guarantee electricity supplies.

The gravity of the situation prompted President Dilma Rousseff to call an emergency meeting of energy officials...