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Unit 5 of the Antonio Maceo Thermal Power Plant (Renté) in Santiago de Cuba successfully rejoined the National Electric Power System (SEN) at 6:15 AM on Monday, according to an official report from the Electric Union of Cuba (UNE).
The synchronization occurs just over 48 hours after the unit was taken out of service due to a leak in the furnace, an incident that added to the series of breakdowns reported at the Santiago plant in recent days.
The repair allowed Renté 5's generation capacity to be reactivated, although the UNE did not specify the megawatts contributed or how long it would be able to maintain stability online.
A critical weekend in Renté
The reactivation of the unit occurs after a weekend marked by incidents at the plant. In the early hours of Sunday, a fire in the fuel oil generators at Renté prompted the mobilization of firefighting brigades, local authorities, and teams from the Red Cross.
Although no human injuries were reported, the incident once again highlighted the vulnerability of the auxiliary facilities.
This was compounded by the sudden outage of Unit 3 on Friday, September 19, just hours after it had been synchronized, due to a "low vacuum" technical failure.
Structural crisis of the SEN
The recovery of Renté 5 represents a temporary relief for the SEN, which is facing deficits exceeding 1,800 megawatts during peak hours, with power outages lasting over 20 hours a day in several provinces.
However, experts warn that these partial reintegrations do not resolve the structural crisis of an obsolete electrical system, lacking sufficient spare parts and dependent on plants over 40 years old.
The return of Renté 5 to the line confirms the "firefighting" dynamic—both literal and figurative—that characterizes the Cuban electricity sector, where each recovery is followed by new setbacks, and stability remains an unattainable goal.
Renté, a plant marked by recent misfortunes and breakdowns
The Santiago thermal power plant has become a symbol of the deterioration of the National Electric System, accumulating in recent months a series of incidents ranging from recurring technical failures to human tragedies.
On August 31, 2025, a serious workplace accident during the startup of Unit 5 left young turbine operator Carlos Rafael López Ibarra, 33 years old, with burns over 89% of his body following the sudden release of high-temperature steam.
The worker fought for his life for days at the Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso General Hospital, but died on September 8, in an event that caused shock in the province and highlighted the risks faced by employees in a sector marked by precariousness.
Just days later, Renté made headlines again due to the unexpected shutdown of several of its units. Unit 3 disconnected after less than 11 hours online due to a "low vacuum" failure, and Unit 5 was taken offline due to a leak in the furnace, drastically reducing the plant's contribution to the national electricity grid.
Early on Sunday morning, a fire in the fuel oil generators at the plant prompted the mobilization of firefighting brigades, provincial authorities, and MININT forces. Although no casualties were reported, the incident once again raised questions about the safety and reliability of the facilities.
These incidents are not isolated; rather, they are part of a pattern that reflects technological obsolescence, a lack of comprehensive maintenance, and a shortage of spare parts.
Renté symbolizes not only the weakness of Cuba's thermoelectric grid today but also the human and social cost of a model that is unable to provide stable electricity to the population.
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