Brazil’s energy minister says the country is on the verge of an energy crisis th

Brazil’s energy minister says the country is on the verge of an energy crisis that will force Brazil to undergo rationing and blackouts beginning next month.  Brazilians are facing the prospect of power cuts for up to four hours a day beginning June first, the date set by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso to begin implementing measures to re- duce consumption. The rationing could last until November as the country tries to reduce electricity consumption by 20 percent. Energy Minister Jose Jorge blamed the situation on a lack of rain during the rainy season, which caused reservoirs to dry up. Officials say many of the reservoirs that supply water to power Brazil’s hydroelectric stations are at 33 percent of capacity because of dry weather. Electricity in Brazil is heavily dependent on hydroelectric dams, which have not been able to keep up with growing demand. Since 1990, power consumption has grown by four percent a year, about one percent more than the yearly rate for electrical generation.  However investment in the energy sector declined during the same period, thus contributing to the current crisis.