Venezuela Experiences Nationwide Power Outages; Government Attributes Issue to Saboteurs

On Friday, Venezuela experienced a widespread power outage that affected almost the entire country, including the capital city of Caracas.

According to Communications Minister Freddy Nanez, the blackout began around 4:40 a.m. local time (08:40 GMT), causing either total or partial power outages across the country.

Nanez blamed the outage on “electrical sabotage,” but provided no specific details or evidence of such an attack. He stated that the government was actively working to restore the electricity supply and that plans were in place to deal with what he described as a new act of aggression against the country.

Power outages have been a recurring issue in Venezuela, though they have generally been more localized. During a period of significant political unrest in 2019, similar outages were frequently reported and were often blamed by the government on saboteurs and opposition groups. Energy experts, however, cited brush fires that damaged transmission lines and poor maintenance of hydroelectric infrastructure as contributing factors to the outages.

The recent power cut coincided with ongoing political tension following last month’s contentious presidential election. The government has again pointed to sabotage by political opponents as a cause for even minor disruptions as such on Tuesday.

The timing of the outages has led some to speculate about their connection to anti-government protests that took place the day after the smaller blackouts. Diosdado Cabello, the newly appointed interior minister and a prominent figure in the government, suggested that the opposition’s actions were intended to disrupt daily life and challenge President Nicolas Maduro’s rule.

In Caracas, the impact of the blackout varied. While traffic was lighter than usual and some residents faced difficulties with cellphone communications, many took the disruption in stride. Services on the city’s metro were halted and replaced by additional buses, according to Transport Minister Ramon Velasquez.

The power outage also affected operations at Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, particularly at the country’s largest oil terminal, Jose. This interruption impacted vessel loading and discharging activities. However, some key facilities, like the Paraguana refinery, were not affected due to their own power sources.

Amid the ongoing election dispute, which has seen a rise in the arrest of opposition figures, the government’s response to power outages continues to reflect its broader political strategy. The controversy surrounding the election results has intensified the scrutiny of both government and opposition claims.

The Venezuelan power grid, heavily reliant on the Guri Dam hydroelectric plant, has faced challenges related to infrastructure maintenance and a significant emigration of skilled workers.

Reuters, Aljazeera and the Associated Press contributed to this report.