Venezuela's electricity crisis, caused by a drought linked to the El Nino phenomenon and an overstretched grid, puts its $300 billion economy at risk of contraction, may cut the OPEC nation's oil-product exports, and is denting President Hugo Chavez's popularity. For stories, please double click on the codes in brackets: LATEST NEWS > Eighty firms punished for big power use > Chavez trusts God and nature > Drought my cut dam's power output > Venezuelans sweat over order to cut power > Power crisis to hit growth, fuel exports > Plant fuel need to hit oil exports > Government upbeat on economy despite crisis > Drought reveals long-submerged town > Chavez's support slips, but still strong > 'Electricity emergency' declared ANALYSIS > Blackouts, devaluation hurt Chavez > Economy slow despite devaluation boost > Fuel imports soar in Venezuela > Politics spill onto baseball fields > Cuban help decried by opposition BACKGROUND > Facts about energy crisis > Problems for Chavez in election year > Key political risks to watch Keywords: VENEZUELA POWER/ (andrew.cawthorne@thomsonreuters.com; +58 212 277 2650) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved.
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