Engineers in Zulia back deal with GE Vernova to fix Venezuela's power grid

The College of Engineers of Zulia state views a national government agreement with U.S. company GE Vernova positively, seeing it as a crucial step toward repairing Venezuela's ailing electrical system. The system has been plagued by recurrent failures across the country.

Orlando Urdaneta, president of the Energy Commission at the College of Engineers of Zulia, emphasized the importance of international participation in the recovery efforts. "It is a step in the right direction, having General Electric execute the repair or installation of new turbines is fundamental," he stated. Urdaneta also suggested that modernization could extend to other technologically present companies in Venezuela, such as Siemens, given their involvement with existing thermoelectric plants.

Specifically concerning the Termozulia complex, Urdaneta noted that several turbines require specialized intervention due to their German manufacturing. He believes that with sustained investment, some units could be restored within a year, significantly reducing supply disruptions in Zulia, where power outages can last for hours. Zulia primarily relies on the national interconnected system fed by the Simón Bolívar Hydroelectric Plant in Guri.

The agreement with GE Vernova is part of a broader government strategy to boost electricity generation capacity, which has deteriorated over years. Official estimates suggest the plan could progressively add up to 1,000 megawatts within 24 months and exceed 5,000 megawatts in four years. However, the Venezuelan electrical system has suffered from frequent blackouts for over a decade. While the government blames international sanctions, specialists and opposition sectors point to a lack of maintenance and investment as primary causes.