Venezuela and Brazil sign energy deal
Apr. 8, 1997 Venezuela will get a stronger foothold in Brazil's potentially vast electric power market with the
signing of an agreement extending a transmission line across their border, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry
said.
The deal to link the northern city of Boa Vista with big hydro-electric plants in Southeast Venezuela has been signed
in Boa Vista by Venezuelan President Rafael Caldera and his Brazilian counterpart Fernando Henrique Cardoso.
The 429-mile (686-km) line will provide 200 MW from December 1998 to Roraima state, according to an agreement reached
in January between Venezuela's state-owned Electrificacion del Caroni CA (Edelca) and Brazil's Eletrobras.
In his third visit to Brazil since he took office three years ago, Caldera will also inaugurate a 600-mile (1,000-km)
highway between Boa Vista and Manaus, thus allowing a direct road link between Venezuela and the booming capital of
Amazonas state. Foreign Minister Miguel Burelli said the road would "strengthen the economic integration process
between the two countries," with bilateral trade last year of $ 2.0 billion. Caldera and Cardoso are also expected to
discuss possible oil joint ventures, Venezuelan government officials said. The two countries are considering buying
or leasing a refinery in the region, possibly in the Caribbean.
