Protests have broken out in Venezuela over widespread power outages
Protests have broken out in several Venezuelan states over daily power outages. This week, demonstrations spread to Caracas, where regular power outages have been reported for the first time since 2019.
According to the publication, power is cut off for 4–5 hours every day in Aragua state. In Carabobo state, police dispersed protesters, and in some areas of the capital, people were left without power for up to 15 hours.
Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, attributed the outages to damage to the TermoCarabobo gas-fired power plant following two earthquakes in June. According to her, the facility is currently operating at only about half its capacity.
The authorities also called on the public to reduce electricity consumption and announced plans to involve the private sector in the development of the energy sector.
Despite promises of reforms and attracting investment, the country’s residents, according to the publication, have not yet seen a significant improvement in the economic situation.
Source: Financial Times.
Nicolás Maduro has served as president of Venezuela since 2013, following the death of Hugo Chávez, with whom he had a long-standing political partnership.
Maduro may be held in a special prison in New York during his trial.
