Nuclear Society President Backs Venezuela-General Electric Deal to Recover Electrical System

Leancy Clemente, president of the Nuclear Society of Venezuela, has endorsed an agreement between the Venezuelan government and General Electric (GE Vernova) as a potentially pivotal moment for restoring the nation's electrical system. Clemente views the partnership as a positive step toward addressing the country's persistent energy challenges.

According to Clemente, GE Vernova brings extensive global experience in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, along with technical training programs. He highlighted that such alliances revive Venezuela's historical connections with high-level technology providers. The technical agreement, stemming from weeks of on-site diagnostics by GE teams, sets progressive recovery goals: up to 2,000 megawatts in the short term and approximately 5,000 megawatts within five years.

Venezuela's installed capacity is around 30,000 megawatts, but operational output falls significantly short of this potential, while national demand hovers near 15,000 megawatts. This disparity has led to structural deficits and recurring service failures. Clemente pointed out that the issues extend beyond generation to transmission and distribution infrastructure, which have lacked comprehensive maintenance for decades. He believes GE Vernova's expertise is crucial for addressing the entire electrical chain simultaneously.

Clemente advocates for a phased recovery approach, combining immediate solutions like installing mobile thermal plants (200-250 megawatts each) with the rehabilitation of major generation facilities. He estimates that up to 1,000 additional megawatts could be integrated within six months through these temporary measures. He also warned that increasing oil production, a key government objective, heightens energy demand, making a robust electrical system essential. "We are between a rock and a hard place," Clemente stated, explaining the dilemma of boosting oil output without sufficient electricity while citizens face rationing. He stressed the importance of collaboration between international experts, the government, and Venezuelan specialists to find effective solutions.