The Electrical Union of Cuba (UNE) attributed to a human error the disconnection of the National Electrical System (SEN), which affected almost the entire island this Saturday for six hours from Matanzas to Guantánamo. The state-owned company assured that around 4:53 pm the service was restored, although there are still effects on the generation that will decrease “gradually.”
Lázaro Guerra Hernández, technical director of the UNE, explained to Canal Caribe that the failure occurred at 10:56 am when a 220-kilowatt substation in Matanzas was left without power, dragging with it the fall of the electrical system at 11 out of 15 provinces.
Guerra Hernández explained that only the Mariel and Havana units remained in generation, in addition to the Energas plants. The official assured that the failure was detected immediately, a service restoration process began with the incorporation of unit 2 of the Santa Cruz thermoelectric plant (Mayabeque), which allowed the distribution of electricity to Sancti Spíritus.
This is the second major blackout that the Island has suffered in less than a week. On February 13, the National Electric System was disconnected from Ciego de Ávila to Guantánamo due to the Air ionization caused by a fire in a cane fieldas explained by UNE.
The constant failures originate from the failures of the thermoelectric plants due to the age of their infrastructure, with more than 40 years of operations
In a note shared on its Telegram channel, UNE assured that there is no relationship between the two blackouts because the one that occurred this Saturday is attributed to a “merely human operation.” “In none of the cases is there evidence to show that they were provoked. Work is being done at all times to compensate the damages and difficulties with the SEN in the shortest possible time,” he insisted.
Cuba is going through an energy crisis, aggravated last year with several power outages that lasted up to 12 hours in some provinces. The Electric System suffered a new blow in September 2022, when Hurricane Ian devastated the west of the Island and left the country in the dark for several days.
The constant failures originate from breakdowns in thermoelectric plants due to the age of their infrastructure, with more than 40 years of operations, and requires constant maintenance, in addition to not having enough fuel for generation.
The Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, warned at the beginning of the year that the blackouts would return between January and April, but in a “localized” way and not as traumatic as those of 2022, due to the maintenance of the generators to be ready for the start of the high consumption season with rising temperatures. However, this week he toughened up his prognosis and announced that service cuts will be up to three hours a day until May.
Alfredo López Valdés, general director of the UNE, announced that “severe measures” will be applied for state entities that exceed electricity consumption plans
Power outages also force industries to adjust their production schedules. Alfredo López Valdés, general director of UNE, announced that “severe measures” will be applied to state entities that exceed electricity consumption plans. Among the “retaliations” he mentioned the cuts in the service in the office areas and the suspension of the fuel assigned for administrative tasks “, cites a note from the official P newspaper 26.
The announcement was made known in the Provincial Electricity Council of Las Tunas, where the authorities defended that the province has one of the lowest averages in energy consumption with 69 megawatts (MW) during February in daytime hours and 85 in hours of the evening. In the analysis, the newspaper said, some “excessive increases” were found, such as the municipality of Amancio, which does not comply with the demand plan.
The same is happening in the municipalities of Majibacoa and Puerto Padre, claimed Roger Cabrera Rodríguez, a specialist from the Provincial Government. “Severe measures must be taken,” he added, because he has several production centers that do not comply with the energy plan. “The directors of these entities must bear in mind that we are in the midst of a situation that requires everyone’s commitment,” he added.
________________________
Collaborate with our work:
The team of 14ymedio He is committed to doing serious journalism that reflects the reality of deep Cuba. Thank you for accompanying us on this long road. We invite you to continue supporting us, but this time becoming a member of our newspaper. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.
