Life in the dark: The daily agony of Venezuela’s power crisis

Life in Venezuela is increasingly dominated by darkness, as the country grapples with a severe power crisis. Sonia Soto, a 62-year-old woman from Maracaibo, the nation's oil hub, spends half her day in darkness, causing her anguish and depression. For years, Maracaibo has faced relentless power rationing due to corruption, underinvestment, and lack of maintenance. This year, however, the outages have become even more prolonged, spreading to more regions and becoming increasingly unpredictable.

The government attributes the crisis to the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has brought drought and high temperatures. To cope, daily power cuts have been extended to six to 11 hours in several regions, and reduced working hours have been introduced for public-sector employees. Authorities have also agreed to ration power in shopping malls, with two daily periods of darkness.

The situation is reminiscent of the electricity emergency in 2009, when water levels at the Guri reservoir fell sharply due to a severe drought. The Chávez government addressed the crisis by purchasing thermoelectric plants from a businessman, only for them to fail shortly after installation. Today, many businesses in Maracaibo have shut down, with nearly 40% of them closing this year due to the power crisis.

The power outages have a significant impact on people's lives, making it difficult to work, rest, and maintain daily routines. For example, Sonia struggles to keep her convenience store and restaurant cool during the hot Venezuelan summers. The constant blackouts also prevent people from using air conditioning, exacerbating the heat and affecting their nighttime rest.

Despite the government's efforts to address the crisis, the situation remains dire. Oil fields operate amid constant outages, affecting the production and transportation of oil. The constant blackouts also make it challenging to plan and execute daily tasks, as people never know when the power will be cut.