Brazil has issued a warning regarding the drought that is raising concerns about energy allocation, affecting hydroelectric production and agriculture, while also increasing the risk of Amazon rainforest fires.
On May 27, the Electric Power Monitoring Committee (CMSE) recommended that the National Water Agency of Brazil recognize a state of “water scarcity,” following a prolonged drought in the Central and Southern regions of the country, along the Paraná River basin, Reuters reported.
The weather monitoring agency under the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture also issued an “emergency drought warning” from June to September. This agency stated that the lack of rainfall is likely to persist in five states of Brazil during this period.
The lack of rain in Brazil has negatively impacted crop cultivation and livestock.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy also announced that the drought conditions are expected to continue in the coming months, particularly in the southeastern and central-western regions of Brazil.
The lack of rain in Brazil has adversely affected grain cultivation and livestock farming. Electricity production in Brazil is also facing challenges as the majority of the country’s electricity is generated from hydroelectric plants.
The Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy stated that they are working to expand supply to meet the rising energy demand in Brazil during the upcoming summer.
Additionally, scientists indicate that the dry weather could lead to severe fires in the Amazon rainforest and the Pantanal wetlands.
The drought is also impacting Brazil’s sugar and coffee production, making it a leading supplier globally.
This has driven up the prices of these products. Coffee prices reached a four-and-a-half-year high on May 28.
The concern stems from traders fearing that the weather in Minas Gerais, Brazil, could affect the 2022 coffee harvest.
