Recurring Blackouts Halt Bakery Production in Venezuela's Barinas State

Recurrent power outages are paralyzing the bakery sector in Venezuela's Barinas state, threatening production and the livelihoods of thousands. The Association of Bakers and Pastry Makers of Barinas State (Appaeb) issued a formal statement detailing the severe operational contingency affecting the region's commercial and agri-food sectors.

Hermes Hurtado, president of the bakers' guild, warned that the "uninterrupted interruption of the electrical flow" directly compromises the production of bread and essential food items. Key processes like thermal baking, mixer operation, and the cold chain for crucial ingredients are constantly halted. This leads to "irreversible losses of dough, imported raw materials, and high-cost inputs," according to the association.

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Each power cut during the key production hours not only destroys raw material that is costly to replace, but it puts the daily livelihood of thousands of Barinas families and the labor stability of the sector at risk.

The situation is particularly paradoxical given that Barinas state hosts three electricity generation plants. However, a significant portion of the energy produced is redirected to other regions, leaving local businesses in a state of "extreme operational vulnerability." The guild highlighted that each power cut during critical production hours not only destroys costly raw materials but also jeopardizes the daily sustenance of many families and the sector's labor stability.

While the association affirms its support for interregional solidarity, it stresses that this should not come at the expense of paralyzing local production or threatening food security. "Bread is part of the basic diet of Venezuelans," Hurtado stated. "Keeping the ovens on is a public and productive necessity that requires concerted technical solutions urgently."

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The bread is part of the basic diet of Venezuelans. Keeping the ovens on is a public and productive necessity that requires concerted technical solutions urgently.