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The U.S. Embassy in Caracas met this Thursday with Rolando Alcalá, Minister of Electricity of Venezuela's interim authorities, to progress in the reconstruction of the country's electrical grid, according to the diplomatic mission's post on its X account.
The message, signed with the initials "JB," indicates that the meeting is part of the three-phase plan initiated by President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aimed at "restoring reliable energy supply through expertise, investment, and collaboration with the U.S."
This plan, presented by Rubio in January 2026, encompasses three stages: stabilization, recovery, and reconstruction with an openness to foreign investment in critical infrastructure, followed by a final phase of political transition towards elections. The electrical grid is prioritized in the second stage.
The meeting comes at a time of acute crisis. On May 7, electricity demand in Venezuela reached 15,570 megawatts, the highest level in nine years, while less than 40% of the country's generation capacity is available.
The state of Zulia, including cities like Maracaibo, experiences power cuts lasting six to eight hours daily, and some communities have gone five or six consecutive days without electricity or water. The U.S. Department of Energy described the Venezuelan grid as "deteriorated and fragile" after years of neglect, corruption, and lack of investment under the Chavista regime.
The restoration of the electric sector could require up to $13 billion in the first three years, according to Americas Quarterly. The plan includes the rehabilitation of hydroelectric and thermoelectric power plants, the replacement of transformers and transmission lines, and the supply of U.S. light crude oil.
This meeting is the most recent in a series of high-level bilateral commitments since the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright visited Venezuela on February 11 and signed a long-term energy agreement with Delcy Rodríguez at the Miraflores Palace. Subsequently, General Francis L. Donovan, Head of Southern Command, visited the country on February 18 and 19, and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum arrived in Caracas on March 4 to assess the mining sector.
Last Tuesday, the Embassy also met with the Minister of Transport from the interim authorities, which reflects the swift pace of diplomatic contacts across various sectors of the Venezuelan economy.
According to the Department of Energy, all projects will be "funded and directly supervised by the United States, which will exercise full control over Venezuela's oil revenues to ensure transparency and integrity in the use of funds."
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