Even though Hurricane Rafael has moved away from Cuba, Havana continues to struggle with widespread power outages, leaving much of the city in the dark. A statement released this morning by the Electric Company reports that out of the 337 primary distribution circuits they manage, 305 have been assessed. Currently, only 50 circuits are serving 143,468 customers. Essential services have been restored to eight hospital circuits and two water supply circuits. "We are at 15.1% recovery," the announcement stated.
Meanwhile, the storm damage includes 90 fallen poles, with 30 located in the Plaza and Cerro municipalities. On Thursday night, a limited power system was activated in the western zone, providing electricity to areas such as Cotorro, San Miguel del Padrón, Guanabacoa, Habana del Este, Regla, Boyeros, Luyanó, La Habana Vieja, and Arroyo Naranjo. Testing is ongoing in the Camilo Cienfuegos district and the Pan American Village in Habana del Este.
Efforts to Restore Power Amidst Chaos
Support teams from Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Camagüey, Cienfuegos, and Sancti Spíritus are assisting in the recovery process. However, fallen trees, downed poles and cables, and scattered debris still dominate much of the city. The situation has become untenable for residents who have been without power for two days, watching helplessly as their food spoils in the intense heat.
Attorney Manuel Viera, known for his outspoken criticism of the government on Facebook, noted that the hurricane conveniently exposed the weaknesses of the National Electric System (SEN). He reminded that even as the first winds began on Tuesday afternoon, the system had already failed. "We've spent 48 hours with most Havanans without power, and there's no sign of progress. Two days after the hurricane, tree branches remain on the streets with no one clearing them. Alongside the power outage, we're cut off from communication, with all devices drained. We are now an uninformed and disconnected population," he said.
Government Response and Public Frustration
In the face of growing frustration, Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O announced on Friday that the SEN is back online. "Work is ongoing in the western provinces to repair circuits, erect poles, and restore the power grid. Havana has started receiving electricity with 81 MW in service," he detailed on his Twitter account.
Just 24 hours earlier, amid the chaos of the system's collapse, the Electric Company of Holguín reported successfully linking circuits to supply power from Matanzas. "An interconnected system has been established between Matanzas and Holguín, primarily supported by the CTE Guiteras, Energás Varadero, the unit 5 of Nuevitas, and distributed generation," they revealed.
Furthermore, the Electric Union announced efforts to energize the western network, starting from the activation of Energás Boca de Jaruco, aiming to reach Havana's floating power stations and the Mariel thermoelectric plant.