Termocarabobo Plant in Carabobo state, Venezuela. File photo.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—Venezuelan Electric Energy Minister Rolando Alcalá offered an assessment of the recovery of the National Electric System (SEN) after the damage caused by the June 24 double earthquake. On Friday, August 7, in a telephone interview with Venezuelan public television, VTV, he described the ongoing recovery efforts.
Electricity outages, fluctuations, and surges have increasingly affected millions of Venezuelans for years, especially with the imposition of the illegal US sanctions. However, in recent weeks the situation has worsened dramatically as a consequence of the earthquakes.
Alcalá explained that the earthquakes caused significant damage to the infrastructure and equipment in central Venezuela, specifically at the Carabobo Thermoelectric Plant, Planta Centro, and the 400 kV transmission line that connects Planta Centro with Yaracuy.
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Regarding the restoration work at the Carabobo Thermoelectric Plant (Termocarabobo), the minister stated, “We have already recovered two transformers, and in the coming days we will be able to recover the third, which will add 450 megawatts to the 600 we lost due to the double earthquake.”
In relation to the transmission network and the impact on power flow to the central and western regions, he explained that the interruption of the link on the 400 kV line reduced the transfer by approximately 100 MW, causing instability in the system.
Alcalá highlighted the continuous deployment of technical teams. “We have been working 24 hours a day since the two earthquakes occurred—the CORPOELEC teams, technical teams, engineers, and workers,” he said. He also confirmed that one of the three transmission towers uprooted by the earthquake has already been recovered, while work is underway to rebuild the remaining two as quickly as possible.
New CORPOELEC president
On Saturday, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez appointed engineer Juan Crisóstomo Fernández as the new president of the Electricity Corporation (CORPOELEC).
“I have appointed engineer Juan Crisóstomo Fernández as president of CORPOELEC. With 27 years of experience at CORPOELEC and knowledge of the electrical industry, he will contribute his experience and commitment to strengthening and improving this essential service for the Venezuelan people,” Rodríguez wrote on social media.
According to analysts, the decision might be connected to grassroots pressure demanding the improvement of the electricity grid. Some of the statements made by Minister Alcalá—they claim—might have contradicted previous announcements made on Wednesday by Rodríguez herself about the restoration of 50% of the capacity of the Termocarabobo plant.
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The acting president also appointed engineer José Luis Betancourt as deputy minister of Electric Services, “who assumes the responsibility of strengthening the team in charge of promoting this strategic task for the country.”
These new appointments are part of the plans aimed at the recovery and strengthening of the National Electric System. The government is trying to revitalize the public administration of the electricity system by bringing in specialized professionals with extensive experience in the sector, as reported by the Venezuelan government itself.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/SC
