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Venezuelans lose sleep in bid to curb electricity shortage Venezuelans lose sleep in bid to curb electricity shortage
(35 minutes later)
Venezuelans lost half an hour of sleep on Sunday as their clocks were moved forward to save power on President Nicolás Maduro’s order. Venezuelans lost half an hour of sleep on Sunday as their clocks were moved forward to save power at the order of President Nicolás Maduro.
At 2:30 am local time, the oil-dependent South American nation shifted its time forward by 30 minutes, to four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. The move, announced in mid-April, is part of a package of measures the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member nation is pursuing to cope with a crippling electricity shortage. At 2:30 am local time, the oil-dependent South American nation shifted its clocks forward by 30 minutes, to four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. The move, announced in mid-April, was part of a package of measures the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) member nation is pursuing to cope with a crippling electricity shortage.
Related: Venezuela's plan to save energy during the drought: three-day weekendsRelated: Venezuela's plan to save energy during the drought: three-day weekends
Maduro’s socialist government has allowed rolling blackouts, a reduced work week of two days for public sector workers and the closure of schools on Friday to try to save electricity.Maduro’s socialist government has allowed rolling blackouts, a reduced work week of two days for public sector workers and the closure of schools on Friday to try to save electricity.
Maduro has blamed the El Niño weather phenomenon for the lack of rain that has reduced the lakes at Venezuela’s hydroelectric dams to oversized puddles. The drought, the most severe in 40 years, has especially affected the El Guri dam, which provides 70% of Venezuela’s electricity. Maduro has blamed the El Niño weather phenomenon for the lack of rain that has reduced the lakes at Venezuela’s hydroelectric dams to oversized puddles. The drought – the most severe in 40 years – has especially affected the El Guri dam, which provides 70% of Venezuela’s electricity.
In announcing the time change, the science and technology minister, Jorge Arreaza, said the night-time use of lighting and air conditioning was especially draining for the power grid. In announcing the clock change, the science and technology minister, Jorge Arreaza, said the night-time use of lighting and air conditioning was especially draining for the power grid. “It’ll be simple to move the clock forward a half hour – this will allow us to enjoy more daylight and it won’t get dark so early,” he said.
“It’ll be simple to move the clock forward a half hour – this will allow us to enjoy more daylight, and it won’t get dark so early,” he said.
Maduro’s late predecessor, Hugo Chávez, added the unusual half-hour time change in December 2007 also with the goal of saving power. Chavez died in 2013.Maduro’s late predecessor, Hugo Chávez, added the unusual half-hour time change in December 2007 also with the goal of saving power. Chavez died in 2013.
Venezuela, which was once booming as the country with the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has plunged into economic chaos as global crude prices have collapsed. Its economy has been in recession since 2013. Venezuela, which once boomed as the country with the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has plunged into economic chaos as global oil prices collapsed. Its economy has been in recession since 2013.
Venezuelans face acute shortages of such basics as toilet paper thanks to the scarcity of dollars needed for imports. The government imposed currency controls in 2003 in an effort to crack down on a bustling black market in dollars. Venezuelans face acute shortages of basics including toilet paper thanks to the scarcity of dollars needed for imports. The government imposed currency controls in 2003 to stifle a bustling black market in dollars.
With most of Venezuela’s hard currency revenue coming from oil exports, the lower oil prices make dollars even harder to obtain than before the crisis.With most of Venezuela’s hard currency revenue coming from oil exports, the lower oil prices make dollars even harder to obtain than before the crisis.