Venezuela is negotiating with Siemens and General Electric to address the electricity crisis

Delcy Rodríguez, the acting president of Venezuela, announced this Sunday that her government is engaged in direct negotiations with Siemens and General Electric to address the electricity crisis affecting the state of Zulia, in the northwest of the country.

The announcement was made during an event held in a theater in that region and broadcasted by the state channel Venezolana de Televisión, marking the start of a 13-day pilgrimage called by Rodríguez to demand the end of international sanctions.

"Thanks to that diplomatic dialogue, I can say that we are now in direct contact with Siemens and General Electric to resolve the electrical problem in the state of Zulia," declared Rodríguez, who took on the executive power after the capture of Nicolás Maduro along with his wife Cilia Flores.

The negotiations take place within the context of diplomatic rapprochement with the United States, which included the visit of the U.S. Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright to Miraflores, during which the situation of the Venezuelan electricity sector was specifically discussed.

Both companies had already sent technical missions to Venezuela to assess the electrical system and present rehabilitation proposals. According to reports, the estimated investment for the total recovery of the system amounts to millions of dollars that are still under negotiation.

The urgency of these actions became evident days ago, when a massive blackout left 80% of Zulia state without electricity, further worsening the situation for the residents of the region.

In the institutional context, Rodríguez appointed Rolando Alcalá as the Minister of Electric Energy, a civil engineer, in an effort to bring a technical shift to the management of the sector.

The diplomatic context has also favored progress regarding sanctions: the OFAC removed Rodríguez from its sanctions list, and the Trump administration lifted sanctions on the Central Bank of Venezuela, opening the door to new foreign investments.

Analysts point out that without electricity, it is impossible to increase oil production, making the recovery of the electrical system a strategic priority for the country's economic revitalization.