MIAMI, United States. – The National Electric System (SEN) of Cuba was completely restored, with the exception of unit 1 of the Felton Thermoelectric Power Plant, which “will be connected in the next few hours,” according to the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la Or Levy, in a post from social networkon this Wednesday night.
“All the units in the start-up process are connected, except Felton unit 1,” said the official, who assured that this machine already has the boiler on, so its synchronization will occur soon.
At 2:08 in the morning this Wednesday, Cuba was plunged into a new total blackout, the third in less than two months. According to official information, the new disconnection of the SEN was due to the shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant, the largest in Cuba, “due to the automatic trip.”
According to the official media CubadebateIn the early hours of the day, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, said that priority would be given to restoring electricity to vital centers such as hospitals and pumping stations. However, he pointed out that the restoration would be a slow and gradual process to avoid setbacks. “It takes place step by step,” he said.
After the total disconnection of the SEN, the Minister of Labor and Social Security reported that work and teaching activities in the country were suspended. He also indicated that the measure will be maintained as long as the SEN is not restored.
The first total blackout of this year began on October 18 and lasted up to five days in several regions of the country. That time, the MINEM also reported that the “total disconnection” of the SEN was due to the departure of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant.
Then, at the beginning of November, the Electrical Union (UNE) confirmed a new total blackout, supposedly caused by the effects of Hurricane Rafael, which crossed the west of the Island.
One day before the disconnection of the SEN, this Tuesday, the UNE advertisement that the blackouts would simultaneously cover 52% of the national territory during peak hours (evening-night). In this way, the highest impact rate recorded so far this year was repeated, discounting the two general blackouts in October.
The UNE also indicated that the interruptions of the electrical service were due to the lack of fuel and breakdowns in the units of the operational terrestrial thermoelectric plants.
Before the total blackout on October 18, most of the island’s provinces only had three hours of electrical service a day, a situation to which most of the Cuban territories have returned, with the exception of Havana, the provincial capitals and some localities linked to essential services.
The blackouts further complicate the country’s already tense energy situation and not only deteriorate the economic performance of Cuba, which has been mired in a serious crisis for years, but have also been the trigger for anti-government protests. The most notable ones occurred on July 11, 2021the largest in decades, and most recently on March 17 in Santiago de Cuba and other locations.
