Fire at the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant causes "serious damage"

The Ministry of the Interior (MININT) is investigating the causes of the incident.

Surroundings of the areas that were affected by the firePhoto © Facebook/Armando Carranza

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The damage to the control rooms of the two units of the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant "Carlos Manuel de Céspedes," which caught fire on Thursday morning, has been classified as "serious."

This was announced by journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso, citing statements from Juan Bravo Núñez, the director of that thermoelectric power plant.

The same source reiterated that there are no loss of human lives and that the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) is investigating the causes of the incident.

Alonso did not provide further details about the severity of the incident.

Facebook Capture/Lázaro Manuel Alonso

Previously, the official communicator Armando Carranza indicated that the incident occurred around 10 a.m., when "a noise was heard" and immediately following, a fire of "medium size in the electrical panels broke out, which was quickly extinguished by its workers and the fire department."

Facebook Capture/Armando Carranza Valladares

Radio Ciudad del Mar had clarified that the incident does not worsen the situation of the national energy system, since the two units of the thermoelectric plant -which total about 316 MW- were already out of the National Electric System (SEN) due to being "under maintenance."

As of the closure of this report, there is no further information available regarding the incident that occurred on Thursday morning at the Cienfuegos power plant.

Meanwhile, the energy crisis in Cuba continues to worsen with longer blackouts every day. For this Thursday, an impact of 1,300 MW is expected during peak hours.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Fire at the Cienfuegos Thermoelectric Plant

What impact does the fire at the Cienfuegos power plant have on the Cuban electrical system?

The fire does not worsen the situation of the national electrical system as the two units of the thermoelectric plant were out of service for maintenance. However, the energy crisis in Cuba continues to deteriorate, with longer blackouts each day.

What were the causes of the fire at the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant?

The causes of the fire are still under investigation by the Ministry of the Interior (MININT). The fire originated in the electrical panels and was quickly extinguished by the workers and the fire department.

What damage did the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant suffer due to the fire?

The fire caused severe damage in the control rooms of both units of the power plant. No loss of human life has been reported.

What is the current situation of the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant?

The Carlos Manuel de Céspedes thermoelectric plant is undergoing intensive maintenance, which includes significant repairs on units 3 and 4. The units are expected to be operational again by mid-year, which could partially alleviate the energy crisis in Cuba.

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CiberCuba Editorial Team

A team of journalists committed to reporting on Cuban current affairs and topics of global interest. At CiberCuba, we work to deliver truthful news and critical analysis.