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A serious workplace accident occurred last Sunday at the Antonio Maceo Grajales Thermoelectric Power Plant, known as “Renté,” leaving a worker with critical burns on most of his body, reported the Unión Eléctrica.
The turbine operator Carlos Rafael López Ibarra, 33 years old, sustained burns over 89% of his body surface due to the sudden release of high-temperature steam during the start-up and synchronization of generation unit No. 5, explains the official report.
It is noted that the man was immediately attended to by the plant's medical team and transferred to the Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso General Hospital, where he remains hospitalized in extremely critical condition with a reserved prognosis.
According to Dr. Miguel Ángel Díaz Núñez, provincial director of Public Health, the patient is conscious, breathing spontaneously, and eating orally, with all medications and supplies ensured, adds a report from the local television.
Provincial authorities visited the injured person in the hospital and showed interest in the medical care and support for their family, the post detailed.
Engineer Jesús Aguilar Hernández, the director of the facility, reported that security protocols have been activated and that the exact causes of the failure in the steam infrastructure are being investigated.
Last year, despite a decrease in the number of workplace accidents in Cuba, the figure of work-related deaths remained at 52 people, an alarming statistic of one death per week.
According to the latest report from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), the total number of accidents decreased by 37.7% compared to 2023, dropping from 1,498 to 934.
Frequently Asked Questions about the accident at the Renté Thermoelectric Plant and the energy situation in Cuba
What happened in the accident at the Renté Thermoelectric Plant?
A 33-year-old worker, Carlos Rafael López Ibarra, suffered burns over 89% of his body due to a failure in a steam pipe during the startup of generation unit No. 5 at the Renté Thermoelectric Plant in Santiago de Cuba. He is currently in extremely critical condition at the Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso General Hospital. Authorities are investigating the causes of the failure.
What is the current situation of thermoelectric plants in Cuba?
The situation of thermal power plants in Cuba is critical. The Antonio Guiteras plant, one of the main ones, has been out of service due to recurring technical failures, and other units, such as the Renté plant, are also facing maintenance issues. This has worsened the energy crisis, causing prolonged blackouts and impacting the quality of life for citizens.
How does the energy crisis affect the Cuban population?
The energy crisis in Cuba is causing deep social unrest. Extended blackouts are impacting daily life, interrupting essential activities, damaging appliances and food, and creating unbearable heat conditions without electricity for ventilation or refrigeration. The situation is exacerbated by outdated energy infrastructure and a lack of adequate maintenance.
What measures are the Cuban authorities taking to address the issues in the electrical system?
Cuban authorities have implemented security protocols and are investigating the causes of the failures in the thermoelectric plants. Additionally, urgent maintenance has been attempted on the plants, although the solutions appear to be temporary and do not address the underlying issue. The lack of investment in modernization and proper maintenance remains a significant challenge.
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