Cuba‘s national electricity system,once again, fell this Wednesday for a failure of its main thermoelectric power plant, without “giving respite” to Cubans are experiencing their third national blackout in less than two months.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel said so expects “good progress” in resuming service during this day.
“The companions of Ministry of Energy and Mines of Cuba and the national electricity company UNE They work tirelessly and precisely in their reconnection,” Díaz-Canel indicated in his X report.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines reported this in the early hours of the morning “The disconnection of the Electrical System, SEN, occurred on the occasion of the start-up of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant”the most critically important in the country, said in
According to the authorities, during the morning Independent electricity generation circuits have been re-established in all provinces of the country, especially those that serve hospitals, but the vast majority 10 million inhabitants of the island were still without electricity at midday.
Orlando Matos, a night watchman on duty when the blackout began, complains that the The energy crisis “gives no respite”. “We live in anxiety,” he exclaimed.
Osnel Delgado, a 39-year-old dancer, says next to his wife, also a dancer: “You always try to overcome this situation, but when the environment doesn’t help you, well, you end up like this he doesn’t want to do anything. “You get depressed.”
Failure occurs later another widespread outage on November 6, when he Hurricane Rafael caused a system crash that lasted several days.
Just a few weeks earlier, on October 18, another fault in the same thermoelectric power plant, located in the province of Matanzas, near Havana, triggered a four-day nationwide blackout.
The Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, explained it on this occasion “Conditions are more favorable than during the last disconnection.”
“He wasn’t there “no damage to the country’s generating units that were online”therefore it is expected that during the day there will be “a large percentage of recovery” of the supply, the ministry indicated in
They were there in Havana on Wednesday morning few people on the street. Many families did not take their children to school and state employees were informed that their businesses would not open.
In addition to the blackouts, two hurricanes and an earthquake hit the island this season, which caused eight deaths and numerous material damage.
A fragile energy system
The Cuban government has repeatedly stated that The critical economic and energy situation affecting the country is due to the economic embargo imposed by Washington for more than sixty years. This blockade was strengthened during the first government of Donald Trump (2017-2021), without his successor making him more flexible in general.
The country has a worn-out system of eight obsolete thermoelectric power plants which require constant maintenance. It also includes generators and some floating plants for generating electricity Cuba rents to Turkish companies, both technologies are fueled with fuel the island having to import due to shortages.
After the two previous blackouts, the population spends many hours without electricity, in some provinces almost all day, due to the chronic deficit in electricity production.
What are the root causes of Cuba’s ongoing electricity crisis as discussed by experts?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Energy Expert on Cuba’s Electricity Crisis
Time.news Editor: Welcome to our interview today. I’m here with Dr. elena Ruiz, an energy systems expert who has closely studied Cuba’s electricity issues. Dr. Ruiz, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Elena Ruiz: Thank you for having me. I’m glad to discuss this critical issue affecting so many lives.
Editor: As many of our readers know, Cuba is currently experiencing its third national blackout in less than two months. What do you think are the main contributing factors to this frequent collapse of the electricity system?
Dr. Ruiz: The electricity crisis in Cuba can be traced to a combination of aging infrastructure, insufficient maintenance, and a lack of investment in modern technologies.The recent failure of the main thermoelectric power plant illustrates how fragile the system has become. these plants have historically struggled under the weight of outdated equipment and technical know-how.
Editor: President Miguel Díaz-Canel mentioned he expects “good progress” in resuming service.What challenges does the government face in restoring electricity quickly?
Dr. Ruiz: The challenges are multifaceted. First, there is the immediate urgency of repairing and maintaining existing facilities. However, capacity shortages mean that even if repairs are prosperous, the system may still not be able to meet demand. Additionally, there’s a political challenge—ensuring dialogue and openness with the public during emergencies is crucial for maintaining trust.
Editor: Considering the broader implications, how do these blackouts affect daily life in Cuba?
Dr. Ruiz: The frequent blackouts substantially disrupt daily life. They affect businesses, access to healthcare, and education—especially as many students depend on electronic resources.The discomfort caused by the heat and the lack of refrigeration for food can lead to greater public dissent as peopel’s livelihoods are directly threatened.
Editor: You mentioned public dissent. How do you foresee the public’s reaction given the persistence of these issues?
Dr. Ruiz: People are understandably frustrated. In a country where the government plays such a prominent role in daily life, continuing problems like this can lead to increased criticism of the authorities. It may provoke protests, as we’ve seen in recent times with civil society calling for answering to these systemic issues.
editor: What long-term solutions could Cuba implement to stabilize its electricity supply?
Dr. Ruiz: There are several long-term strategies that the Cuban government could consider. They could invest in renewable energy sources like solar or wind, which would diversify the energy matrix. Additionally, improving the efficiency of existing plants through better technology and training could help. Forging international partnerships for investment and knowledge transfer could also be a game-changer.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Ruiz, for your insights. It’s clear that the electricity crisis in Cuba is not just a technical issue but a complex challenge that impacts the lives of all Cubans.
Dr. Ruiz: Certainly.The path forward will require careful planning, coordination, and a willingness to innovate. Thank you for having me.
Editor: Thank you for your time, and we appreciate your expertise on this pressing issue.