The director of the Electric Company in Santiago de Cuba, Lester Cedeño, confirmed that disruptions in the electricity supply can reach up to 18 hours a day, due to the combination of the national generation deficit and the damage caused by the recent tropical storm Imelda.
In an interview with the telecenter Tele Turquino, Cedeño explained that the capital municipality has been the most impacted, with 41 cables down, 25 neighborhoods, and 156 homes affected, while 20 work crews are trying to restore service in the various popular councils.
The official specified that the three units of the Renté thermoelectric plant remain out of service, exacerbating the situation throughout the eastern province.
The disruptions are on the order of 14, 15, up to 18 hours of this nature, he acknowledged, adding that during the nighttime peak, interruptions equivalent to 1,900 MW are anticipated.
Cedeño also acknowledged that there are no defined impact blocks, meaning that practically all circuits are included in the outages, including some deemed "vital."
"We are trying to provide the longest possible service time with the loads that the national dispatch allows us," he noted.
The electrical crisis in Santiago de Cuba adds to the wave of prolonged blackouts affecting the country, where daily power interruptions last longer than 12 hours in several provinces, leading to protests, economic losses, and increasing social unrest.
Cuba woke up this Saturday in the midst of a critical energy scenario, following a day marked by massive blackouts and generation deficits in the National Electric System (SEN), around 1,900 megawatts (MW).
The Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem) reported that along with the Electric Union (UNE) and the Cuba-Petroleum Union (Cupet) emergency actions are being implemented to address the complex situation facing the system, following a combination of technical failures, low fuel availability, and breakdowns in several thermoelectric plants.
In an interview broadcasted on national television, Minister Vicente de la O Levy acknowledged that the disruptions in recent hours were greater than anticipated, due to a series of unforeseen events that brought the SEN "to the brink of collapse".
He explained that three power plants went offline simultaneously, resulting in an instant loss of over 270 MW, while the country was already operating with low overall availability.
We were at risk of the system failing again. Immediate and strict actions were taken to maintain stability, but it was a very tense night,” said the head of Minem this Friday, detailing that the outage occurred around 10:30 PM and affected the recovery of the scheduled blocks designated to receive electrical service.
In the interview itself, the official admitted that “the fuel is not enough for the entire month of October” and that Cuba only has reserves “for a few days.”
The minister's words reiterate the speech from 2023, when the government acknowledged a “state of emergency” due to the fuel shortage.
In September of that year, De la O Levy acknowledged that the country was at “zero fuel” and that the reserves had been almost completely depleted, affecting both electricity generation and transportation.
The day before, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Miguel Díaz-Canel presided over an extraordinary meeting at the Provincial Committee of the PCC in Havana, accompanied by ministers, military leaders, and senior officials from the Political Bureau, following the recent protests and banging of pots and pans in the capital.
The ruler announced the formation of work teams that will include local authorities and mass organizations to "directly address" community demands.
However, it also mobilized resources and personnel from the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) and the Ministry of the Interior (Minint), strengthening the military presence in managing the crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Electric Crisis in Santiago de Cuba
Why are there power outages of up to 18 hours occurring in Santiago de Cuba?
The power outages of up to 18 hours in Santiago de Cuba are caused by a national deficit in electricity generation, exacerbated by the damage caused by Tropical Storm Imelda and the non-operation of three units at the Renté thermoelectric plant. This has left the eastern province with significantly reduced energy availability.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the electricity crisis?
The Cuban government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Electric Union (UNE), has implemented emergency actions, such as the mobilization of brigades to repair thermal power plants and the limited distribution of fuel. However, these measures have not been sufficient to stabilize the National Electric System (SEN), which continues to face a critical generation deficit.
What impact do prolonged blackouts have on the Cuban population?
Prolonged blackouts severely impact the daily lives of Cubans, interrupting essential services such as water supply, communications, and the healthcare system. Furthermore, they create social unrest, protests, and economic losses, exacerbating the crisis situation the country is experiencing.
What is the current situation of the thermoelectric plants in Cuba?
The thermoelectric plants in Cuba are in a critical situation, with multiple units out of service due to breakages or maintenance, as is the case with the units in Renté, Felton, and Santa Cruz. The technological obsolescence and the lack of spare parts have left the country's thermoelectric fleet in alarmingly precarious conditions, unable to meet the national energy demand.
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