Venezuela may close metal operations due to drought
Mon Jan 4, 2010 10:20am EST
CARACAS, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Venezuela may be forced to close aluminum, steel, bauxite and gold mine operations in the south-east of the nation due to a drought and electricity shortfall, a minister was quoted as saying on Monday.
"If we have to close the basic industries in Guayana, because the Guri (reservoir) is drying up, well we have to close them," Electricity Minister Angel Rodriguez said in an interview with financial daily El Mundo.
"We have to avoid the reservoir drying up completely." (Reporting by Patricia Rondon; Writing by Andrew
