Zulia power crisis drives plan to reactivate local thermal plants

Engineer Orlando Urdaneta, president of the Electrical Commission of the Zulia Engineers’ College, said the state must either generate electricity locally or continue rationing. He identified six priority thermal units whose repair could add about 700 MW to the regional grid, estimating a cost of roughly $168 million and an eight‑month timeline if parts are available. However, replacement components from manufacturers such as General Electric and Siemens may take up to a year to arrive, delaying the effort.

Meanwhile, residents report electric outages lasting five to six hours, severely disrupting health services, especially dialysis treatment for renal patients. Local officials including councilor Daniel Ponne and politician Juan Pablo Guanipa warned that the cuts affect tens of thousands of people across Zulia and the neighboring Guajira region, and criticized the lack of response from national authorities.