Oswaldo Felizzola: 'In energy, physics gives the orders, not politicians'

Venezuela's deep-seated energy crisis is a stark illustration of how prolonged technical and institutional deterioration, coupled with a political ideology that prioritized will over natural laws, has crippled the nation.

The former government operated under the premise that natural resources were inexhaustible and that political directives could override the fundamental laws of thermodynamics. This approach, however, has led to the collapse of the electrical grid and a severe decline in oil production, proving that physics and engineering cannot be negotiated.

Oswaldo Felizzola, a mechanical engineer and coordinator at the International Center for Energy and Environment (CIEA) of IESA, emphasizes that the energy diagnosis is undeniable, evidenced by constant blackouts and reduced operational capacity in oil wells. He attributes this to a confluence of ineptitude, corruption, and inaction inherent in the previous model.

Following significant events in early 2026 and earthquakes in June that exposed governmental incompetence, Venezuelan society has increasingly distanced itself from an ineffective state. Survival dynamics in both the productive sector and daily life have supplanted ideological rhetoric, revealing that economic and social recovery hinges on reclaiming the nation's lost technical expertise.

Felizzola outlines a path forward that involves integrating oil, gas, electricity, and renewable sources into a comprehensive energy policy. While oil revenues could fund part of the transition, gas and renewables are crucial for decarbonization and rebuilding the internal electrical system. He notes that while technically viable to increase oil production, achieving this requires urgent and substantial financial investment in the national electrical infrastructure, as physics, not politicians, dictates the orders in energy.