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The Granma Electric Company has asked the population for "patience" due to the complete interruption of electrical service caused by the passage of the hurricane Melissa through eastern Cuba. They announced that service will be restored after the recovery phase is declared, but in a "gradual" manner, prioritizing vital centers.
The state entity emphasized that the restoration of electrical service will be a "gradual process", prioritizing hospital services, water pumping, and evacuation centers, after which residential circuits will be restored "periodically."
In a note published on social media, accompanied by photos of the damage to facilities and electrical networks, the company expressed its understanding of the citizens' concerns regarding the general blackout, and explained the "current procedure" that must be followed to restore electricity during the Cyclonic Alarm Phase in which the province is located.
He stated that in this phase it is impossible to carry out damage assessment work on the power lines, firstly, to ensure the safety of the personnel, and also due to the weather conditions, which prevent any technical intervention.
The statement recalled that the thermoelectric plants located in the eastern region—from Camagüey to Guantánamo—are currently not generating electricity, as they were disconnected from the National Electric System (SEN) before the arrival of the cyclone.
"Once the Civil Defense declares the transition to the recovery phase, our technical team will immediately proceed to identify faults and damages in the electrical lines," the company assured. "At that moment, we will begin working on addressing the issues gradually, with the aim of restoring electrical service as quickly as possible."
The Granma Electric Company "earnestly" requested its customers for "patience and trust" during this difficult period. "We understand that the situation will not be resolved overnight, as it requires considerable effort and work from our staff. We thank you in advance for your understanding," it concluded.
The statement from the state entity comes at a critical time for the residents of that and other eastern provinces, who are trying to recover from the severe impact of Melissa, which has devastated entire cities and towns in eastern Cuba, leaving serious damage to homes and infrastructure and other substantial material losses.
Hours before the meteor reached the east of the country, the government decided to disconnect all thermoelectric plants in that region for operational safety reasons and vulnerability to the cyclone, leaving behind the promise of a supposed backup plan for eastern Cuba in this emergency situation.
The measure was taken despite repeated requests from citizens to preserve electricity in order to stay informed about the dangerous weather event and, additionally, to meet basic needs such as cooking food and providing water.
The measure worsened the situation for communities that were already facing shortages of food, water, and communication means. Furthermore, it reflects the precariousness of the national energy system and the lack of emergency infrastructure to sustain basic services during natural disasters.
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