Power cuts in Maturín cause economic losses for ice cream shops and other businesses

Frequent and unannounced electricity cuts in Maturín, Venezuela, are severely impacting local businesses, threatening their financial stability. The constant power interruptions have become a major concern for merchants in the Monagas state capital.

The ice cream sector is experiencing direct and damaging effects. Power outages break the critical cold chain necessary for preserving their products. This disruption leads to reduced daily sales and jeopardizes the very survival of these businesses. When electricity fails, shop owners refrain from opening freezers to maintain internal temperatures. However, prolonged outages, often without warning, cause ice cream to melt, losing its proper consistency and rendering it unsellable.

Workers in the sector highlighted that the lack of an official schedule for the blackouts exacerbates the problem. Power suspensions occur at any time of day, lasting from early morning into the late afternoon. This unpredictability forces businesses to close preventatively and deters customers. "After two hours without light, you can no longer open the freezers because the losses would be immense. I would not only lose customers but also materials," stated Carla Barrio to Radio Fe y Alegría Noticias.

Merchants have installed voltage protectors to prevent power surges from damaging refrigeration motors. However, the inability to conduct business in the dark completely paralyzes productive activity. Most small entrepreneurs lack the financial capital to purchase and install electricity generator plants. Consequently, these business owners are appealing to the relevant authorities for intervention to correct the instability in the regional power grid, thereby safeguarding jobs and commercial income.