Electrical crisis in Nueva Esparta intensifies: they report blackouts of up to 20 hours

  • Nov, Tue, 2024
  • ICTS


Blackouts
The blackouts in Nueva Esparta have worsened in recent days| Photo Courtesy

One week away from explosion of a gas pipeline of the state oil company PDVSA in the state of Monagaswhose Damage affected the electrical system of Nueva Esparta, Residents of the entity report that the electrical crisis has intensified as the days have passedwith blackouts of up to 20 hours a day in some areas.

Although the Minister of Electrical Energy, Jorge Márquez, assured that the electrical service in Nueva Esparta would be progressively restored starting Saturday, the situation has worsened, especially in sectors of the island of Margarita such as Genovés, in Porlamar, and Los Robles, in Maneiro.

Merchants denounce that the prolonged electricity crisis in Nueva Esparta, which lives mainly from the tourism industry, has generated serious economic lossessince it is unsustainable to work even in businesses that have a power plant due to the extent of the power outages.

«Since November 12, last Tuesday, the power outages have extended for up to 14 hours. People can’t go to work, there are elderly and disabled people who can’t climb stairs in buildings, food is going bad. “How can you live like this?” said a resident of Margarita Island in a video posted on social networks.

Residents point out that even shopping malls are starting to close their doors because some have failures in their power plants or have run out of fuel to operate for so many hours.

«There are places that have been without light for days. Here we have always had electricity problems but this situation is serious, we are like Cuba, the island is totally dark. Even shopping centers are having plant failures and are closing,” said another complainant in X.

Some claim that while much of Margarita Island faces a massive blackout, luxury hotels with foreign tourists maintain power supply.

Mental health of residents of Nueva Esparta affected by the electricity crisis

Power outages are not only affecting economic activities, but are also seriously disrupting the daily lives of residents. Many report that they have lost their food and their appliances have been damaged, but they have also experienced a collapse in their mental health.

«We have had power cuts for 10 consecutive days of up to 20 hours a day in some sectors of Margarita. Our appliances have collapsed, they have been damaged. The mental health of those of us who live in Margarita is on the verge of collapse. Imagine what our children are experiencing, who have to go to school without sleeping. “Everything that entails,” said two residents of the island.

Nubia González, a resident of Los Robles, also told the newspaper The Time their exhaustion in the face of blackouts. «We spend the day in the heat, doing nothing, waiting for the light to arrive. When we arrive, we charge our cell phones and in less than three hours we leave again. “This is truly crazy,” he said.

Arianna Arteaga Quintero, daughter of journalist Valentina Quintero, also reported that as of Saturday the electrical situation on the island worsened.

«It would be decent to tell us what is happening, the minimum would be to establish truly scheduled and organized cuts while the contingency lasts, what is human would be equity and not that where the heavy people live there is light and where the people live they set an hour. “Wise would be to invest in systems that provide long-term solutions,” he stated on his Instagram account.

He called on the authorities to find solutions to the situation for the month of December, in which not only residents enjoy the holidays but it is also a high season for tourism on the island.

Why is there no electricity on Margarita Island?

Last week an explosion of a gas pipeline of the state oil company PDVSA was reported in the state of Monagas, after which a fire broke out in the Muscar Operational Complex, responsible for distributing 80% of the country’s gas. At least five workers were injured.

This incident considerably affected the gas supply to the Nueva Esparta thermoelectric plants.which has generated the prolonged blackouts.

The government of Nicolás Maduro assured that The situation was caused by an alleged terrorist attack led by opposition leader María Corina Machado and former member of the US Navy SEAL Erik Prince.

It should be noted that oil and electrical installations usually have a strong military presence, but the Chavista government usually denounces attacks for which it blames the opposition.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said Monday that 11 people have been arrested for the alleged attacks.

The State’s statements have generated rejection in the population. «Those in the government are champions in blaming the opposition. That they say that those to blame for the situation in Margarita are those of the opposition is incredible,” said a user on X.









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