Venezuelans Endure Daily Blackouts as Oil Deal Promises Distant Prosperity
Frequent power outages in Venezuela's oil-rich Zulia state leave residents frustrated and skeptical of promised economic revival from a new oil deal.
In the heart of Venezuela's oil industry, residents say uninterrupted electricity remains a rare luxury. Frequent blackouts have become a daily reality, even as political leaders promise prosperity and investment following a sweeping oil agreement.
Mari Castellanos, a nurse at a community health center in Maracaibo, described the toll of the outages. "This is no way to live," she said. Recounting a recent night, she explained that power returned at 3 a.m. only for her to report for a 24-hour shift at 5:30 a.m. When she arrived, another blackout struck, plunging the facility into darkness for six more hours.
In Cabimas, a family celebrated a child's seventh birthday without electricity. Clarimar Aguiar, the mother, cut the cake by the light of mobile phone flashlights. "You just have to get used to it," she said. "If there is power, we can have a better time, with music. But without power, you just cut the cake, and that's it."
Residents in Maracaibo gather along the waterfront, where oil tankers are visible, to escape the heat and darkness of their homes. Yet, eight months after the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro, little has changed for ordinary people.
Washington has pushed for sweeping policy changes, including opening the oil sector to foreign investment. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said a plan exists to stabilize the power grid within six to twelve months. However, experts note that Venezuela's energy infrastructure has deteriorated so severely that it will take years for new investment to yield significantly more oil.
Joan Mayor, a merchant selling meat and cheese at a market in Maracaibo, voiced deep frustration during an outage. "Enough is enough. We cannot take this anymore," he said. He rejected further agreements between governments, fearing they might entrench the current leadership. "We want a new president," he added, expressing a desire for dialogue with a future government, not the current one.
Many residents echo Mayor's sentiment, saying they see no immediate solutions and feel abandoned by those in charge. The promise of future prosperity offers little comfort to those living through daily uncertainty and darkness.