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The new breakdown at the Energás Jaruco thermoelectric plant, in the Mayabeque province, caused power outages in several municipalities of Havana on Tuesday, worsening the already critical energy situation in the country.
The Electric Company of Havana reported on its Facebook page that, following the unexpected shutdown of units 3, 4, and 6 of the plant, an emergency outlet occurred due to the tripping of the feedwater pump.
As a result, it was necessary to affect 163 megawatts (MW) due to an emergency, distributed across several circuits belonging to blocks 3, 4, and 6 of the capital's system.
"According to the demands of the National Electric System (SEN), the blocks will be restored starting with those that have been affected the longest until the schedule is fulfilled," stated the state-owned company.
The outage occurs just hours after the Electric Union (UNE) reported the shutdown of those same three units in Jaruco, a facility that is an essential part of the gas and electricity generation system in western Cuba.
The incidence coincides with a low availability of generation across the country, which has resulted in impacts exceeding 1,700 MW since the beginning of the week.
Although the affected municipalities in Havana were not specified, citizen reports on social media indicate prolonged outages in areas of Playa, Marianao, Cerro, and La Lisa, as well as intermittent interruptions in Centro Habana and Habana del Este.
The Energás Jaruco power plant, inaugurated more than two decades ago as a joint project between Cuba and Canada, uses associated natural gas from the oil extracted in the area.
Its contribution is crucial for sustaining electricity generation in the western region, so any failure in its systems leads to cascading blackouts in the capital and nearby provinces.
A week ago, the Cuban regime added a new chapter to the long list of unusual explanations it provides when the already deteriorated SEN fails: in this instance, sargassum was the reason for the shutdown of a generating unit at Energás Jaruco, in the province of Mayabeque.
On another note, UNE informed on its social media about a malfunction in the boiler of unit 1 at the Lidio Ramón Pérez thermoelectric plant, known as Felton, which forced the suspension of operations and the initiation of a cooling process on Saturday night, around 11:40 PM.
Frequently asked questions about blackouts and the energy crisis in Cuba
What caused the recent malfunction at the Energás Jaruco plant?
The breakdown was caused by the firing of the water supply pump, which rendered units 3, 4, and 6 of the plant out of service. This incident increased blackouts in several municipalities of Havana, affecting the power supply in the Cuban capital.
How does the situation with Energás Jaruco affect the electricity supply in Havana?
The Energás Jaruco plant is key to electricity generation in western Cuba. Its shutdown causes chain blackouts in Havana and nearby provinces, due to the limited energy availability throughout the country.
What are the consequences of the energy crisis in Cuba?
The energy crisis has led to prolonged blackouts affecting homes, hospitals, schools, and economic activity in Cuba. This situation is due to an outdated electrical system, lack of maintenance, and resource shortages, which have caused deep social unrest.
What measures has the Cuban government taken to gather information about the blackouts?
The Electric Company of Havana has urged the public to stay informed through its official channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, ToDus, X, and Facebook, as well as by calling the Customer Service Center at 18888. However, no estimated time for the normalization of the service has been provided.
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