Siemens and GE Vernova Conduct Technical Assessment of Venezuela’s Guri Hydroelectric Complex

Siemens and GE Vernova conducted field inspections of Venezuela’s Bajo Caroní hydroelectric complex during March 2026, examining conditions at the Guri, Caruachi, and Macagua facilities that constitute the backbone of national electricity generation. The Simón Bolívar plant at Guri maintains installed capacity exceeding 10,000 megawatts, though effective availability has declined due to accumulated failures, deferred maintenance, and restricted access to specialized parts and services. Technical teams from both manufacturers assessed the 48 total generating units across the complex, identifying a significant number requiring immediate intervention.

The site visits followed energy discussions between Caracas and Washington, including a trip by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright to the Venezuelan capital. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed direct contacts with both companies to evaluate system recovery alternatives. Industry specialist Luis Alejandro Ruiz indicated rehabilitation proposals could be presented by mid-April 2026, potentially initiating sustained electrical service recovery before year-end.

The hydroelectric infrastructure historically provides 60-70% of Venezuela’s total generation, with limited thermal backup capacity. System failures documented since 2019 exposed structural fragility, with recurring service interruptions particularly affecting Zulia state. The Bajo Caroní complex’s operational constraints have limited industrial growth during the first quarter of 2026, according to technical assessments.

OFAC has issued licenses permitting provision of goods, technology, and services related to electricity generation, transmission, and distribution under specified conditions, along with negotiation of contingent energy sector contracts. No execution agreements or construction schedules have been announced to date. The majority of turbines at the evaluated facilities were manufactured by the same companies now conducting assessments.

Power system instability directly affects petroleum sector operations, including production facilities, pumping systems, crude upgraders, and refining infrastructure. Venezuela maintains production around one million barrels daily according to official figures and secondary market estimates. Siemens faced a multimillion-dollar sanction in 2018 following international bribery investigations covering multiple countries including Venezuela. The process remains in technical evaluation and proposal structuring phases, with original equipment manufacturers positioned as primary options for critical infrastructure intervention.