Delcy Rodríguez asks for 'patience' amid electrical system recovery delays

Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, has appealed to the public for patience as the nation works to stabilize its National Electrical System (SEN). She acknowledged the ongoing challenges stemming from damage caused by a double earthquake on June 24.

During an official event in La Guaira state, Rodríguez explained that the seismic event directly impacted several transmission lines and a thermoelectric plant that contributed 600 megawatts (MW) to the national grid. "Are there difficulties? Of course, there are difficulties. Sometimes you have to have patience. There are processes that cannot be rushed. There are processes that, no matter how much we hurry them and how much we want them to be so, have their own timelines," she stated, requesting understanding for the technical repair schedules.

Rodríguez specified that work crews prioritized restoring power in La Guaira before focusing on repairing the transmission lines. She also reported that the affected thermoelectric plant in the coastal region has reached 50% operational recovery, highlighting the country's response capacity to contingencies.

These remarks followed a supervisory tour Rodríguez conducted in Carabobo state, where she visited the Planta Centro Thermoelectric Plant. Official reports indicate that efforts there are concentrated on rehabilitating Unit VI (with a 600 MW capacity), conducting comprehensive maintenance on units 1 through 5, and repairing the seawater intake channel used for cooling.

The government's calls for calm come amid a backdrop of service interruptions that have led to public protests and road blockades in parts of Carabobo and Aragua states. The ongoing issues with the electrical grid continue to affect daily life for many Venezuelans.