America Uruguay The National Administration of Power Plants has installed the 1 millionth smart meter for homes, which allows for electricity savings of 20%; the state plans to continue with the replacement process until reaching coverage in 100% of households by 2024
America Uruguay The country’s hydroelectric plants usually produce 45% of national energy during the local rainy period, but due to its drought, this year they only produced 15% of national energy, resulting in a significant increase of energy imports
America Uruguay As classes have started, several teacher organisations held a 24-hour strike to protest against budget cuts and the lack of academic support, claiming that the government is not investing in education
America Uruguay Thanks to a growing economy and improving public finances, President Luis Lacalle Pou is currently working on a bill to increase tax reductions on 75% of tax payers and have around 63.000 low-income workers not pay taxes at all
America Uruguay Due to the severity of its drought, the country has legally prohibited the use of potable water for non-priority purposes, such as garden irrigation, washing sidewalks, filling pools and more
America Uruguay Three years after his inception, 43% approves how Lacalle Pou has managed the country, while only 36% thinks he has complied with promises made during his electoral campaign
America Uruguay The government has declared a health emergency after detecting the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in hundreds of dead swans, thus suspending all current events and expositions related to birds
America Uruguay Official government reports estimate that the state’s GDP this year will fall by approximately 1.7% due to the heavy drought that is significantly limiting its crop production
America Uruguay President Luis Lacalle Pou suggested to the Latin American and Caribbean Community the establishment of a free trade zone extending from Mexico to South America, stating that the regional economies are complementary thus ensuring the initiative’s success
America Uruguay National agricultural emergency has been extended for another 3 months due to drought, thus unlocking the government’s agricultural emergency plan in order to provide funds and further support to its local farmers
America Uruguay As this past year there has been a significant increase in horse meat exports, the Santuarios Primitivos NGO has begun buying trucks transporting horses towards slaughter houses, to then save them as well as give them up for adoption
America Uruguay A new heat wave has struck the country, causing a record energy consumption higher than ever in its history; local environmentalists are alarmed both for the rise in temperature and for energy consumption
America Uruguay The country has joined forces with Mexico to develop a new satellite infrastructure in order to monitor the effects of the climate crisis on the country’s rural areas, helping reduce carbon emissions and monitor the ongoing food crisis