电力短缺影响委内瑞拉

Widespread electricity rationing remains in place across much of Venezuela. The country is largely dependent on hydro-electricity. The combination of a drought and the lack of a back-up plan has led to many businesses being ordered to work reduced hours. Power-cuts of four hours, or more, are commonplace. Stephen Gibbs reports from one of Venezuela's main industrial cities, Puerto Ordaz.

It is Venezuela's only planned city. Puerto Ordaz was founded in the 1950s. The idea was to harness the abundant and cheap hydro-electric potential on its doorstep, and develop steel and other industries, so Venezuela would become less dependent on oil.

Now that dream is ending. Puerto Ordaz, like most of Venezuela, is running out of power. There isn't enough water in the dams, and the government, already struggling with the world's steepest recession, has failed to prepare.

We went for a drive around the city at night.

We soon came across this small protest. These people have had no electricity in their homes, for three days. 
 
"In a rich country - which Venezuela was - and in a state with material wealth, well, here we are with nothing. The country needs to know this. We want electricity water or food," a man said.

Many say the food they've struggled to buy is being ruined in the searing heat.

If there aren't the conditions to keep food, if the food goes bad what are we going to give our children? Where can we get cold water. The cooling fans don't work, our electrical equipment isn't working. This is no way to live," a woman said.

In a desperate bid to save electricity, businesses, which pay minimal costs for power - are being ordered to radically cut down their opening hours.

It's only 7:30 in the evening here. This is one of the city's main shopping centers but owing to electricity rationing, it's already shut.

That's bad news for these young employees of a coffee shop. They say they that everyone is losing money - and some are losing jobs.

"With the electricity rationing, unemployment is increasing in this country. There are many people that have been dismissed, because with just one shift, you can't employ so many people," two men said.

The next day we came across yet another protest. Everyone here lives in free public housing, provided by Venezuela's flagship social program 'mison vivienda'. You'd expect these people to be hardcore government supporters. They once were. But no more.

"They say this house is ready, supposedly, I can't install the basin, because they haven't given us any materials, no tiles or nothing. I'm with the government, but not with the problems they left us," two women said.

They say power to their homes is intermittent and what's worse they haven't had running water, for two years. That field serves as a public latrine.
 
"The money that they set aside for electricity and water - they stole it," three women said.

President Maduro says the electricity rationing is temporary, and that he should not be blamed for a problem that is largely caused by the weather. But this is a government that has long promised to be the provider to its people. It has broken that promise. And plenty here feel desperately let down.