Ex-Maracaibo Mayor Asks Ombudswoman to Intervene Over 8-Hour Blackouts in Zulia

Rafael Ramírez Colina, the former mayor of Maracaibo, has appealed to Venezuela's ombudswoman, Eglée González, to address the critical electricity crisis plaguing Zulia state. Accompanied by opposition leaders, Ramírez Colina submitted a formal complaint in Caracas, detailing daily power outages that stretch up to eight hours. He emphasized the severe disruption to daily life and the functioning of essential services, including healthcare, education, and the trade of basic goods.

The opposition leader urged González to visit Zulia to witness the situation firsthand and meet with those most affected by the rolling blackouts. The document presented highlighted that the power failures have escalated beyond an administrative issue to become a violation of fundamental human rights. Ramírez Colina stated, "We come to demand answers, to ask that not only the voice of our state of Zulia, which is affected, be heard, not only our tragedy be heard, but that we have the opportunity to find solutions."

Ramírez Colina, who was released under precautionary measures in April after an October 2024 arrest, pointed to alleged corruption and mismanagement within the state-owned National Electric Corporation (Corpoelec) as the root cause of the system's collapse. He questioned how a region rich in gas reserves and oil infrastructure endures such unstable service, advocating for the decentralization of the power grid. The opposition also seeks details on government agreements with foreign companies for energy sector recovery.

While official sources attribute the recurring failures to the El Niño climate phenomenon and international sanctions, independent experts and organizations argue that the deterioration of the national electrical system stems from years of neglect in maintenance and investment. Ramírez Colina proposed that the Ombudswoman's Office engage with a technical commission of engineers from Zulia to evaluate a regional self-sufficiency plan.

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We come to demand answers, to ask that not only the voice of our state of Zulia, which is affected, be heard, not only our tragedy be heard, but that we have the opportunity to find solutions.