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Engineers value electrical agreement between U.S. GE Vernova and Venezuela
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Energy & Infrastructure

Engineers value electrical agreement between U.S. GE Vernova and Venezuela

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Venezuelan engineers welcomed an agreement between U.S. firm GE Vernova and the government to improve the country's electrical system.
  • They stressed the need for a similar agreement with German company Siemens to repair existing turbines.
  • The deal aims to add over 5,000 megawatts of capacity within four years, addressing frequent power outages.

Engineers in Venezuela's Zulia state have expressed optimism about a recent agreement between U.S. company GE Vernova and the Venezuelan government to enhance the nation's struggling electrical system. The accord, signed as a memorandum of understanding, aims to address the constant power failures plaguing the country.

It is a step in the right direction, having General Electric to execute the repair or the installation of new turbines is fundamental.

— Orlando UrdanetaPresident of the Energy Commission at the College of Engineers of Zulia, commenting on the GE Vernova agreement.

Orlando Urdaneta, president of the Energy Commission at the College of Engineers of Zulia, called the agreement "a step in the right direction." He emphasized the importance of GE Vernova's role in executing repairs and installing new turbines. However, Urdaneta also highlighted the necessity of a parallel agreement with German company Siemens, as many existing turbines at the Termozulia Complex are from Siemens and require their expertise for repair or replacement.

the Complejo Termozulia has many turbines installed from this company, so they are the ones who must work on repairing or replacing them.

— Orlando UrdanetaExplaining the need for Siemens' involvement in repairing existing power infrastructure.

Urdaneta suggested that with sufficient investment, turbines could be repaired within a year, significantly improving the electrical service in Zulia state, which often experiences outages lasting up to 10 hours. He also noted that developing the thermoelectric industry in Zulia, leveraging the region's gas capacity, could enable it to supply power to the rest of the country. This would require substantial investment, potentially a 10-year plan.

the mission of the company is to allow electricity to reach everyone.

— Roger MartellaGE Vernova's corporate director, stating the company's objective in Venezuela.

GE Vernova's corporate director, Roger Martella, stated the company's mission is to ensure electricity reaches everyone and that the system functions optimally within months. Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, anticipates the memorandum will quickly become a contract, leading to the recovery of 1,000 megawatts in the first 24 months and over 5,000 megawatts in four years. The government attributes power failures to foreign sanctions, while critics cite corruption and poor maintenance. Rodríguez is also pursuing private and foreign investment, having recently announced an agreement with IMPSA to complete the Tocoma hydroelectric plant.

we hope that in the short term the memorandum will become the contract to begin this work that will allow us to recover, in the first 24 months, 1,000 megawatts and in total, in four years, more than 5,000 megawatts.

— Delcy RodríguezVenezuela's interim president, outlining the expected outcomes of the GE Vernova agreement.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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