Electrical engineer talks about the national blackout: “The fundamental problem is the lack of investment and maintenance”

Jorge Alejandro Rodríguez, electrical engineer in power systems, gave an interview in which he analyzed the blackout which was recorded in Venezuela on August 30 in at least 20 states.

From the government of Nicolas Maduro They claimed that it was a case of sabotage. However, the expert gives some clues about the country’s electrical system, which has presented complex failures in recent years.

—Last Friday, Venezuela experienced a nationwide blackout that has raised many questions and concerns. As an electrical engineer specializing in power systems, could you explain what the apparent causes of this blackout were?

According to technical data that have been circulated despite the government’s secrecy, the initial cause of the blackout appears to have been an atmospheric discharge, that is, lightning, which affected the 400 kV transmission line between Guri and Canoa, one of the main axes of the national electrical system.

—This situation is reminiscent of the 2019 blackout, when you explained to the New York Times that lack of maintenance and negligence were key factors. In that case, you also mentioned system overload. What similarities do you see between the two incidents?

Indeed, there are many similarities between the 2019 blackout and the one we just experienced. In both cases, lack of maintenance was a determining factor. In 2019, as we mentioned at the time, New York Timesthe system was already operating at its limits due to a lack of investment in infrastructure and an inability to handle contingencies. The recent blackout reflects a similar pattern: the infrastructure continues to deteriorate and the necessary improvements to ensure system resilience have not been implemented.

—So a simple lightning strike could have caused the entire country’s electrical system to collapse?

It is very important to understand that in a well-maintained and operated electrical system, an event such as a lightning strike should not cause a national blackout. The lightning strike initiated a short circuit on the line, which is relatively common in any transmission system. The real problem was the inadequate response of the electrical protection system.

—Could you explain a little more about what went wrong with those protection systems?

Of course. When a fault such as a short circuit is detected, protection systems are designed to quickly disconnect the affected part of the system, usually in about 60 milliseconds. In this case, the protections on the Guri-Canoa line detected the fault and ordered the breakers to open. However, one of the three breakers did not open as it should have, which began to lengthen the time it took to clear the short circuit.

To prevent a local fault from spreading, electrical systems have a second line of defense called backup protection or breaker failure. This protection should have been triggered if a breaker failed, but in this case, it did not work either. As a result, the fault remained active for more than 1000 milliseconds, much longer than the system can withstand without serious consequences. This triggered a cascading collapse, leading to the tripping of generating units, lines and transformers, mainly at the Guri power plant, the largest source of generation in the country.

—This sounds like a chain of errors. In 2019, you mentioned that the lack of preparation of technical staff was a significant problem. Do you think that is still a factor in this latest outage?

Absolutely. In both cases, lack of proper training and negligence in equipment maintenance have been critical factors. In 2019, I highlighted that the lack of knowledge and experience of the personnel in charge of operating the system contributed to the collapse. In this recent blackout, it seems that the situation has not improved. Protective equipment is highly sensitive and requires constant supervision and maintenance. If personnel are not properly trained or if systems are not properly maintained, the risk of catastrophic failures increases considerably.

—Some reports suggested that the blackout could have been caused by an act of terrorism or sabotage. What is your opinion on this?

The technical data do not support these hypotheses. Analysis of the oscillographs, which are the records of the electrical protections, shows that the event was the result of a technical failure, not sabotage or attack. It is the result of an infrastructure that has received little maintenance and the lack of training of the personnel who operate the system. The same was said in 2019, but as then, the fundamental problem is the lack of investment and maintenance.

—So what measures should be taken to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future?

It is essential to recognize the weaknesses of the electrical system and address them with the seriousness they require. This includes a comprehensive preventive maintenance program, the updating of obsolete equipment, and a significant improvement in staff training. Without a change in state policy towards the management of the electrical sector, we will unfortunately continue to see these types of failures. In 2019, we already warned that the system was on the verge of collapse and, unfortunately, the necessary measures were not taken to prevent something similar from happening again.

—Any final message you would like to share?

I would just like to emphasize that electric power is fundamental to the development and stability of any country. It is vital that the necessary measures be taken to guarantee a safe and reliable electrical system, which is prepared to face and overcome challenges such as the one we saw last Friday. I hope that this time, the authorities take the warnings seriously and act before it is too late. However, I am not under any illusions in this regard, since the government’s incapacity is evident in all aspects of national life. Let us hope that once the country’s political course is set right and the government recognizes the true results of the presidential election of last July 28, the measures taken by the new government that is due to take office on January 10 will allow for notable improvements in all public services, including the electric service.