Edier Guzmán Pacheco, the Functional Director of Thermal Generation at the Unión Eléctrica, has shed light on the complexities involved in restarting the National Electric System (SEN). He emphasized that such an operation demands meticulous coordination, preparation, and resilience developed over time. Despite efforts to restore the SEN this morning, the system suffered yet another setback. Guzmán Pacheco explained that these types of failures are frequent occurrences, necessitating immediate response and reinitialization of the process.
During the latest incident, a critical step was missed, causing the system to regress and "collapse" again. This setback forced the team to revert to the starting point, a common challenge in these processes. The engineer stressed the importance of addressing these failures swiftly to minimize impact.
Repeated System Collapses Highlight Deep-Rooted Issues
Since October 18, the SEN has experienced three major breakdowns. The second failure occurred on October 19 during a recovery attempt, as reported by the Unión Eléctrica de Cuba. Subsequent issues arose on the night of October 20, with a disconnection in the western microsystem indicating further setbacks in recovery efforts. Today, on October 21, the Santiago-Guantánamo microsystem was also affected following a fault at the Renté plant, complicating the already challenging situation.
Guzmán Pacheco attributed these failures to a range of factors, from technical malfunctions in equipment to synchronization issues among different generating plants. He highlighted that the SEN's outdated infrastructure suffers from inadequate maintenance and resource shortages, exacerbating the complexity of recovery operations. This environment demands highly skilled personnel capable of working under pressure.
Efforts and Challenges in Restoring Power
Despite these challenges, Guzmán Pacheco praised the tireless efforts and dedication of the Unión Eléctrica team, who are working relentlessly to restore power. He noted that each failed attempt offers valuable insights for improving future startups and enhancing system stability. Additionally, he underscored the importance of distributed generation in supporting the system during critical moments, as it can sustain parts of the network while main plants are being reactivated.
On October 18, 2024, Cuba experienced a massive blackout following a complete disconnection of the National Electric System (SEN), leaving millions of Cubans without power. The outage was triggered by the shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, one of the country's key facilities. Although the government announced efforts to restore service, they acknowledged that a timeline could not be provided.
Economist Pedro Monreal described the situation as a genuine "energy bankruptcy," attributing it to internal decision-making failures rather than external factors. The power shortage has also disrupted other essential services, including liquefied gas, internet access, and general commercial activities. Meanwhile, Cubans continue to grapple with the repercussions of this crisis, which remains unresolved.