Venezuela has an estimated installed capacity of 34 gigawatts (GW) but generates approximately 13 GW against demand of 16 GW. Underinvestment, infrastructure failures, and the loss of skilled personnel are hindering the country’s industrial recovery.
The Daily Journal – Venezuela’s electricity system generates approximately 13 gigawatts (GW), less than 40% of its estimated installed capacity of 34 GW, according to figures that Alessandro Cecere, an industrial engineer and economist specializing in energy infrastructure and data centers, presented during a summit on Venezuela’s reconstruction at the European Parliament in Brussels on October 13.
Estimated electricity generation falls 3 GW short of the country’s 16 GW demand, highlighting the power system’s limitations in meeting household consumption needs and sustaining productive activity.
Cecere presented these figures during the meeting but did not provide official statistics that would allow independent verification of the system’s operational capacity, actual electricity generation, or national demand.
“Without an increase in electricity generation in Venezuela, we cannot talk about economic recovery,” the specialist stated.
Power failures hamper industrial recovery
Cecere warned that millions of Venezuelans in some states endure more than ten hours a day without electricity. These outages affect living conditions and restrict companies’ ability to maintain operations, expand production, and create jobs.
The unreliable power supply also hinders activities that require uninterrupted electricity, such as industrial processes and data centers, whose expansion depends on reliable infrastructure.
The specialist noted that several hydroelectric and industrial facilities operate below capacity. In his view, the problem extends beyond repairing power plants or installing new turbines and also stems from years of underinvestment, management shortcomings, and the loss of human capital.
Restoring the electricity system therefore requires investment in equipment and infrastructure, along with specialized technical personnel to operate and maintain facilities.
Investment and recovery of skilled talent
During the summit, Cecere emphasized the need to rebuild the sector’s technical capabilities and create conditions that encourage Venezuelan engineers and professionals working abroad to return.
The specialist suggested that combining capital, European expertise, and Venezuelan technical knowledge could help rehabilitate the country’s energy infrastructure.
“Europe helped build Venezuela once. We are here because we are optimistic that it can do so again,” he said.
With information from Bloomberg
