Earlier this week, the federal government ordered a 35 percent cut in outdoor lighting, including on streets, beaches, squares and other public venues, and also banned lighting of statues, fountains and public buildings. A full power-rationing plan was to come out later Friday with many fearing rolling blackouts in most of the country or tough quotas on consumption. Latin America's biggest country ran into a chronic energy shortage after the worst drought in 70 years dried up reservoirs, paralyzing hydro-electric plants that supply about 90 percent of the country's electricity. The spokesman said that even blackouts would not darken the famous statue, which has its own generator at the top of the hill. He added the symbolic value of the statue was the main reason behind the decision rather than its religious value.
Brazil is the world's biggest Roman Catholic country.