Brasília, January 14, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Minister of Mines and Energy, Dilma Rousseff, said, yesterday (13), that she hopes the Provisional Measures (MP's) for the electricity sector will be approved by the National Congress during the special session that begins next week.

"This is the best option for the electricity sector, insofar as it is very complicated and requires urgent attention," the Minister affirmed, pointing out that the measures will end a period of instability that began prior to rationing (2001-2002).

According to Rousseff, rationing managed "to impose monumental stress on the sector," provoking a financial crisis in the companies responsible for energy generation and demonstrating the fragility of the sector's regulatory framework.

The Minister mentioned difficulties in expanding the sector and in providing energy as some of the chief problems with the old model. (DAS)