Russia ready to help Venezuela to restore its power system - ambassador
MOSCOW. March 16 (Interfax) - Russia is ready to provide assistance and support to Venezuela in restoration of the country's power supply system, Russian Ambassador to Venezuela Vladimir Zayemsky told Interfax.
"Of course, our country is ready to provide assistance to our strategic partner Venezuela during this difficult time," Zayemsky said.
He mentioned that Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro established a special commission to investigate the March 8 incident at the El Guri hydroelectric plant and that "he has already said that he would ask Russia for technical assistance to this commission."
"As for the restoration of the country's power supply system, the Venezuelan authorities are currently developing the stance on the key objectives they need to carry out in this sector and the help they would need. After receiving a relevant request, we will thoroughly consider it," Zayemsky said.
On March 7, power was cut off in Caracas and the majority of the Venezuelan states. According to the authorities, the largest blackout in the history of the country was caused by a cyber-attack at the hydroelectric plant's automatic control system.
Power supply has begun gradually resuming only on March 11.