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In a move that contrasts with its recent promise to “strengthen” the supply in Eastern Cuba, Unión Eléctrica (UNE) announced on Monday the preventive disconnection of circuits and three key thermoelectric plants ahead of the imminent arrival of Hurricane Melissa, which is approaching the country with winds of 260 km/h and is categorized as a 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
In a statement published on , the state-run company announced that all areas where winds exceed 60 km/h will be disconnected from the National Electroenergetic System (SEN) as part of a “controlled” process to preserve the integrity of the network.
"The disconnection of the linked circuits and the thermoelectric plants Antonio Maceo (Renté), Lidio Ramón Pérez (Felton), and the Fuel Central of Moa will be carried out due to their geographical location," stated the UNE.
The three plants, located in Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, and Moa, are essential for electrical generation in the eastern region, meaning that the area most threatened by the hurricane will be left almost in the dark in the coming hours.
The announcement comes just one day after the UNE stated that it would "prioritize" electricity generation in the east to help prepare the population for the impact of the cyclone.
However, the reality was very different: users from Granma, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba reported on social media power outages lasting over 20 hours, criticizing the lack of consistency between the official discourse and the situation on the ground.
"Where is that priority? We’ve been without power since midnight," commented a resident of Bayamo. "It seems Holguín is no longer part of the East," quipped another user.
For its part, the Civil Defense is keeping the Cyclonic Alarm Phase in Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Granma, Las Tunas, and Camagüey, while Melissa continues to approach with torrential rains and dangerous swells.
With a collapsed electrical system, disconnected power plants, and thousands of homes in the dark, Cuba is facing Hurricane Melissa during one of the most critical moments of its energy crisis.
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