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Widespread Power Outage in Cuba as National Electric System Disconnects

Wednesday, November 6, 2024 by Mia Dominguez

Widespread Power Outage in Cuba as National Electric System Disconnects
Effects of Hurricane Rafael in Havana - Image © Capture X / Fabiola López

The approach of Hurricane Rafael, with its powerful winds sweeping towards western Cuba, led to the disconnection of the National Electric System (SEN) this past Wednesday. The Electric Union (UNE) announced via Facebook at 2:48 p.m. that intense winds from the formidable Hurricane Rafael resulted in the system's shutdown.

The brief statement mentioned that "contingency protocols are being implemented." Earlier that day, UNE had advised that once Hurricane Rafael's winds hit 60 km/h, a "voluntary disconnection" of the electrical circuits in the affected areas would occur to prevent infrastructure damage and ensure public safety.

Precautionary Measures Amidst the Storm

According to a post on X by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM), "when winds reach 60 km/h, a controlled shutdown of distribution circuits will be executed to avert accidents and failures within the electrical networks." Lázaro Guerra Hernández, the ministry's Director General of Electricity, shared similar remarks on Cuban Television.

"As wind speeds increase and reach 60 km/h, we initiate a voluntary shutdown to prevent harm both to infrastructure and to individuals," Guerra Hernández stated. He emphasized that these actions are taken as winds strengthen in the western region to prevent such situations.

"This is a standard procedure each time a similar event occurs, aiming to avoid damage to infrastructure and potential harm to people from falling live wires. It is crucial to initiate automatic circuit disconnections as soon as winds exceed 60 km/h," he concluded.

Ongoing Challenges for Cuba's Electrical System

Following a previous collapse of the SEN in October, Cuba's Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente De La O Levy, addressed concerns over another potential widespread failure. He asserted that while the system remains fragile, conditions do not currently favor a complete blackout.

"The conditions are not conducive for the SEN to fail entirely. The system is weak, and there is a significant generation deficit, particularly with fuel, but we are not at zero," De La O Levy noted on X. Despite these reassurances, Cuba experienced a significant power service disruption at 6:08 p.m. on Tuesday, with a 1,750 MW deficit—the highest in recent months—due to limited generation capacity.

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