The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric power plant, the largest and most strategic in Cuba, went offline from the National Electric System (SEN) again this Thursday, just a few hours after it had been synchronized, following a massive blackout that left the island nearly dark for over a day.
The journalist from Canal Caribe, Lázaro Manuel Alonso, confirmed the new outage of the power plant, while the Minister of Energy and Mines attempted to calm the situation by assuring that the unit is once again in the process of starting up.
The partial return of the Guiteras, reported at 3:41 p.m., had seemed like a temporary relief following the fifth massive blackout in less than a year and the second one this year. However, the “joy” was short-lived when the unit block couldn't hold and disconnected again, plunging Cuban households back into the same uncertainty that accompanies them day after day.
According to plant executives, more than 15 technical tasks were carried out during the previous shutdown, including cleaning heaters, adjusting pumps, and repairs for tightness, which, in theory, should help prevent another maintenance shutdown.
However, history repeats itself and confirms what citizens already know: electrical stability in Cuba continues to be a fragile illusion.
The impact on daily life
For Cuban families, the fall of the Guiteras is not just a number in official reports, but a direct blow to their daily lives: nights of unbearable heat without fans, food going to waste, the inability to cook, and the growing feeling that life freezes with each blackout.
The cycle of blackouts, failed synchronizations, and unfulfilled promises has worn down the patience of a people who no longer expect technical explanations, but rather real solutions.
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