2 weeks ago
Venezuela Braces for Power, Water Cuts as El Niño Looms
In a country called Venezuela, many people do not have enough electricity or water.
The government has asked everyone to save power and water.
This is because a weather pattern called El Niño is making the ocean warmer, which can cause a drought.
A drought means very little rain, and that makes it even harder to make electricity.
Many power plants in Venezuela are old and broken, so the country depends mostly on water power from a big dam.
People already lose electricity for up to 10 hours every day, which makes hot nights uncomfortable.
Some families are also recovering from two big earthquakes that damaged their homes and took many lives.
They are upset because they worry that saving more power will make daily life even harder.
The government promises to fix power plants by the end of the year, but many people do not believe that will happen.
Less than two months after twin earthquakes left more than 6,000 dead, Venezuela's government is calling for power and water conservation as El Niño threatens drought.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said El Niño was already hitting the OPEC country and could bring drought before year-end.
Residents face electricity cuts of up to 10 hours per day and intermittent water supply, with outages and rationing sparking fresh protests.
Venezuela has less than 13,000 MW of its 36,000 MW installed capacity available, a shortfall of more than 1,500 MW, with nearly 90% of thermal capacity out of service.
The government promised up to 4,800 MW restored before year-end via contracts with GE Vernova and IMPSA, but critics say underinvestment, not El Niño, caused the crisis.
- Who
- Interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced the conservation call; residents, business chambers and quake survivors across Venezuela are affected.
- What
- The government is urging power and water conservation as El Niño threatens drought, with severe electricity cuts and rationing already underway.
- Where
- Venezuela, including Caracas, Valencia, Maracaibo and La Guaira.
- When
- Reported Aug 13, less than two months after twin earthquakes killed more than 6,000 people; drought could hit before year-end.
- Why
- A long-standing power generation deficit from underinvestment is being aggravated by El Niño's expected drought.
Government
Critics and Residents
Cause of the Crisis
Government
El Niño is already hitting Venezuela and could bring drought before year-end, making power and water conservation necessary.
Critics and Residents
El Niño is not the cause of the public services crisis; it is only aggravating a long-standing deficit caused by years of underinvestment.
Capacity Restoration Promise
Government
Up to 4,800 MW of installed capacity will be restored before year-end, with contracts signed with GE Vernova and IMPSA to boost supply.
Critics and Residents
Past promises that went unmet have left many skeptical that capacity will actually be restored as promised.
Further Conservation Measures
Government
Caracas office buildings and malls must switch elevators off three hours per day, and some public offices have reduced service to three days per week.
Critics and Residents
Residents already facing up to 10 hours of daily power cuts say they cannot bear more savings measures, and quake survivors fear rationing will worsen their plight.
Key facts
- Available generation capacity
- Less than 13,000 MW out of 36,000 MW installed
- Supply shortfall
- More than 1,500 MW
- Thermal capacity out of service
- Nearly 90%
- Hydropower dependence
- More than 80%, mainly from the Guri dam system
- Restoration promise
- Up to 4,800 MW of installed capacity by year-end
- Daily electricity cuts
- Up to 10 hours per day in some areas
- Earthquake death toll
- More than 6,000
- New supply contracts
- Signed with GE Vernova and IMPSA
Quotes
Jose Antonio Robles
Head of Zulia state’s engineers’ center
“"How will companies install in Venezuela? How will they grow if there’s no certainty over the national power system’s restoration?"”
theprint.in
“"I can’t wrap my head around more power savings measures if we don’t have it at all."”
theprint.in
Sources
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