The images released this Friday following the fire at the Ernesto Guevara de la Serna Thermal Power Plant (CTE) in Santa Cruz del Norte, Mayabeque, display the aftermath of the incident that impacted unit 1 of the facility during the morning, and which, according to authorities, was extinguished without any human casualties.
The state broadcaster Radio Jaruco reported that at 10:24 a.m., the fire had been extinguished and shared photographs of the state of the thermoelectric plant after the emergency.
According to the broadcaster, which cited information gathered by the press team of La Voz del Litoral, the fire was caused by an oil leak in the front part of the rotor of unit 1.
The anomaly was detected by the operator on duty, which allowed for the activation of safety protocols and the implementation of measures to protect the workers, according to the statement released by both official sources.
Radio Jaruco attributed the extinction of the fire to the intervention of rescue forces and assured that no human casualties were reported.
For its part, the Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed on X that the fire in unit 1 had been extinguished.
"Controlled fire in unit 1 of CTE Santa Cruz. No injuries reported," the agency announced.
After the flames were extinguished, the affected area remained under preventive surveillance, while units 2 and 3 prepared to resume operations, according to an update from Radio Jaruco.
The broadcaster did not specify the extent of the material damage nor did it report how long unit 1 would remain out of service, although the images indicate severe damage to the facility and its roof.
Earlier, at 9:20 a.m., Radio Jaruco had posted an initial update stating that the fire began around 6:30 a.m.
The information came from a phone conversation with Amparo Álvarez, director of the station La Voz del Litoral, who explained that the flames were still ongoing at that moment, although they were beginning to subside with the intervention of the firefighters.
Firefighters from Santa Cruz del Norte, supported by forces from other municipalities in Mayabeque, participated in the firefighting efforts. Provincial ambulances were also mobilized, and measures were taken to safeguard the workers.
The incident occurred at a particularly delicate time for electricity generation in Cuba, with several thermoelectric units out of service and insufficient capacity to meet national demand.
According to the report from the Electric Union (UNE), at 6:00 a.m., the National Electric System (SEN) had only 740 megawatts (MW) available against a demand of 2,260 MW, with a shortfall of 1,540 MW due to generation capacity deficit.
For peak demand hours, the UNE forecasted an availability of 740 MW and a demand of 2,900 MW, which would imply a deficit of 2,160 MW and an estimated impact of 2,190 MW.
The Ernesto Guevara de la Serna power plant, built with Soviet technology and completed in 1991, has three generating units and a combined installed capacity of approximately 295 MW.
Their equipment has experienced recurring failures throughout 2026. Unit 1 had already faced previous interruptions, including issues related to the turbine regulation system.
Filed under: