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2026-08-14 04:15 UTC → 2026-08-31 22:26 UTC ·
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The interim Venezuelan government continues Following a double earthquake on June 24, Venezuela is accelerating efforts to rehabilitate its energy recovery plan following recent seismic events. Efforts include modernization at National Electric System (SEN). Technical teams from Corpoelec are working 24 hours a day to repair infrastructure across central, western, and southwestern regions. At the Central Thermoelectric Plant Centro by China’s Machinery Engineering Corporation, aiming Termocarabobo thermoelectric plant, two of four damaged transformer groups have been recovered, with a third expected to add 4,800 450 MW of capacity by year-end. Technical assessments of to the Guri hydroelectric dam by grid. At Planta Centro, engineers and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) are inspecting the seawater discharge canal and the 600-MW Unit 6 to expedite restarts. Additionally, work continues to reconstruct transmission towers on the Planta Centro–Yaracuy 400 kV line. To support these efforts, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez appointed Juan Crisóstomo Fernández as the new president of Corpoelec. Meanwhile, U.S. Department of Energy specialists and scientists from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are also underway visited the Guri hydroelectric dam to define modernization routes. conduct technical assessments as part of a three-phase stabilization plan. In August, Corpoelec signed finalized a contract addendum with the Argentine-American company IMPSA to rehabilitate modernize the Tocoma and Macagua hydroelectric plants. This phased project aims plants, aiming to recover 672 MW within over 24 months, with an immediate goal of incorporating 160 MW into the grid within 90 days. The long-term plan envisions a combined capacity of 2,640 MW from both plants. Despite these initiatives, regional crises persist. In Zulia, months. However, vulnerabilities remain; engineer Orlando Urdaneta noted Roberto Vernet warned that repairing six priority thermal units could add 700 MW to the regional grid, but estimated costs only 21% of $168 million and potential year-long delays for components from manufacturers like General Electric and Siemens pose significant hurdles. Residents in Zulia and the Guajira region report outages lasting five to six hours, which local officials warn thermoelectric plants are disrupting essential health services, such as dialysis treatments. operational, leaving the grid heavily dependent on Guri. Industrial recovery remains difficult. Tito López, strained. Conindustria president of Conindustria, previously Tito López reported a 26.5% loss that only 5% of working hours due to power failures. industries can fully self-generate power. In response, industry leaders Conindustria, the Cámara de la Construcción de Venezuela, and the UNDP are developing a national reconstruction roadmap prioritizing local manufacturing and proposing a “Ley Puente” (Bridge Law) to reduce bureaucracy and provide fiscal relief.