Venezuela plans to invest $669m in three thermoelectric power plants to connect to the national grid and meet rising demand.

The projects together will add 900MW of power to the grid and include a 300MW power plant in San Diego Cabruticas, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The plants will be managed by state oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and are expected to be complete by October 2010.

Venezuela has been facing a power crisis since late 2009, after a drought reduced the efficiency of its hydropower plants that provides the country with about three-quarters of its power.