The widespread blackout that struck Cuba on Friday morning remains unresolved, as officials, executives, and workers from the National Electric Union (UNE) labor to revive the collapsed national electric power system (SEN). This situation was reported by the Cuban Television News (NTV) during their prime-time broadcast on Friday night, where they interviewed Lázaro Guerra Hernández, the Director of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines.
"Currently, we have microsystems operational in all provinces except Artemisa, each with limited power reaching nearby consumers," stated Guerra Hernández. He provided further details about the minimal progress made in the restoration of the SEN.
With the Energas plant coming online, power was supplied to the Santa Cruz del Norte thermoelectric plant, which was in the process of starting up on Friday night. The state-run media outlet claimed that this development would help "advance the reestablishment of the SEN."
The language and terminology used by Cuban authorities highlight the severity of the situation, as well as the improvisation and concern prevalent among the top echelons of the Cuban regime, who are likely more aware of the critical state of affairs than they admit.
"We are prioritizing the resolution of this highly sensitive energy crisis for the nation," wrote Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel on Friday evening. "There will be no rest until it is resolved," he added.
The limited electricity being provided in Cuba on Saturday comes from generator groups, which are mostly inefficient and many of which are malfunctioning. Additionally, they require fuel to generate electricity for a very limited number of consumers.
Efforts to Reconnect Power in Havana and Beyond
In western Havana, work is underway on the microsystem to start the Mariel Thermoelectric Plant, which has three generation units. The current progress at this SEN node is unknown as of this writing.
"Once we have Mariel linked with Energas and Santa Cruz del Norte, it will benefit the western zone, which is why it is a priority. We are also addressing the issue with the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant," Guerra Hernández noted.
In eastern Cuba, electricity has been restored in Renté, enabling work on its two units to integrate them into the system. According to Guerra Hernández, a motor from the floating power station in Santiago de Cuba has been successfully started. Similar progress was reported in Moa on Friday night.
In Nuevitas, Camagüey, efforts are ongoing to resolve an unspecified "problem" mentioned by the UNE director, as well as the yet-to-be-achieved goal of creating a microsystem to supply energy there.
"Strengthening the microsystems allows us to eventually interconnect systems and achieve a national link," Guerra Hernández asserted in a desperate attempt to instill confidence in the solutions proposed by the same experts and authorities caught off guard by a blackout that has made global headlines.