Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, said on Friday that the country's electrical system is being sabotaged and manipulated in protest over oil agreements signed in the past week as part of a deal with the United States, which will control 20% of Venezuela's crude reserves.
Rodríguez said that last Saturday there was a blackout in western Venezuela, and that gas pressures had been manipulated to bring down the thermoelectric system. She was referring to an electrical failure that day in several western states, including the oil-producing state of Zulia, which borders Colombia. She made the comments at a meeting with oil workers broadcast on the state channel VTV.
She also said that on Thursday night, a team from the state gas company PDVSA Gas detected that gas valves were being closed to bring down gas systems, thermoelectric plants and the national power grid.
Rodríguez called on workers at Corpoelec, the National Electric Corporation, to remain alert, saying that for a week, in protest over what the signing of these oil agreements has meant, those responsible have been trying to harm the Venezuelan people. She did not name anyone directly responsible for the alleged sabotage.
Years of Blaming Outside Forces
Rodríguez repeated a line the Chavista government has used for years to explain Venezuela's electrical crisis, which has affected the country for more than a decade. She pointed to foreign sanctions, growing demand for electricity, high temperatures and sabotage by what she called extremist mafias.
Experts and opposition figures, however, say the current state of the electrical system, with failures reported across nearly the entire country, is the result of corruption and a lack of maintenance, among other factors.
New Oil and Energy Agreements
This week, the Venezuelan government signed an agreement with the American oil company Chevron and Italy's Eni, in the presence of United States Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Rodríguez herself.
A separate agreement was also signed with the American company GE Vernova to strengthen the national electrical system and repair infrastructure in the country's oil industry.
In June, the Venezuelan government signed a memorandum of understanding on electricity with representatives of GE Vernova. In April, Rodríguez said the government was in negotiations with the German engineering firm Siemens.
Rodríguez's Role Since Maduro's Detention
Rodríguez has held the acting presidency since Nicolás Maduro was detained by the United States during a military operation in Caracas. She held Friday's meeting with oil workers to explain the benefits the historic oil agreement with the United States, announced on August 28, could bring to the country. That deal has drawn criticism from various sectors.
