Brasilia, 4 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The president of the Energy Crisis Management Committee (CGE), Minister Pedro Parente, said Friday - in an interview on the "Brazil Energy" website on the Internet - that the committee's work doesn't finish with the end of electric energy rationing. According to him, the next step is to revitalize the electric energy sector, assuring private investments to increase the offer of electricity and to allow the market to function normally.

Parente also pointed out the "fundamental" participation of the Brazilian people during the rationing period. According to him, this helped keep the shortage of electricity from gaining greater proportions, which would have been "catastrophic" to the country.

Another point highlighted by Parente was the creation of the Energy Company of Water Development of the Northeast, which will provide a consistent water structure and the resources necessary for the Northeast region of Brazil. Parente reminded that the problem of water scarcity is a global one and affects not only the generation of electric energy, but water for human consumption as well. (MW)