Venezuela fails to comply with contract to supply Brazil's Roraima state with energy

Brazil Mines and Energy Minister Bento Albuquerque said on Tuesday that Venezuela has not complied with its contract to supply northern Roraima state with energy since March 7. Brazil is working to kickstart construction on a transmission line to connect Roraima to the rest of the Brazilian electricity grid so that it is not reliant on Venezuela, he said.

Roraima is the northernmost and least populated state of Brazil, located in the Amazon region. It is the only Brazilian state not connected to the national power grid. It depends on Venezuela's Guri hydroelectric dam for most of its power. Its capital, Boa Vista, and most other cities in the state are supplied by power produced in Venezuela and transmitted through a line that was opened in 2001.