Paraguay's Vice President-elect Federico Franco said Wednesday that his country is not "going to continue giving away its share" in the hydroenergy exported to Argentina and Brazil.
Franco told a local radio network that Argentina and Brazil "pay 28 U.S. dollars for every megawatt Paraguay sells them" and suggested that this price should be increased five times as much.
After recalling that "in 2007 Argentina paid 240 dollars for every megawatt imported from Brazil," Franco reiterated that the elected government does not intend to "create problems."
"We have talked to (Argentine) President Cristina Fernandez and our commitment was to facilitate the energy supply, but at a fair price," said Franco, "Paraguay cannot afford itself the luxury to continue giving away what belongs to it by justice."
Franco announced that Paraguay is going to renegotiate the energy price with Argentina and Brazil by lifting it to a fair level.
Franco said "the country needs that money" because Paraguay's "health and education sectors show alarming indicators," and "Paraguay has the highest maternal-infant death rate."
"This government is not going to give in. No kind of money can bribe (president elect) Fernando (Lugo) nor Federico (Franco). We said it in the campaign and we are not going to change," said Franco.
Source: Xinhua
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