In a televised address, Lázaro Guerra Hernández, the Director-General of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, unveiled the government's plan following a nationwide blackout. This blackout was triggered on Friday night by a failure at the Diezmero substation in Havana.
Guerra Hernández shared on the "Buenos Días" program that 225 MW are currently being provided through newly established microsystems, focusing on supplying power to critical infrastructure. Although few have seen his broadcast, several journalists and online media outlets have reported on his remarks and the measures being undertaken to restore electrical service in both the western and eastern parts of Cuba.
According to journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso, who posted on Facebook, the Camagüey microsystem in the eastern region is set to power the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant, which is in the startup phase. Meanwhile, Santiago de Cuba's microsystem is prepared to supply the Renté thermoelectric plant for synchronizing unit 3, also in the process of starting up. The Nuevitas plant is expected to come online soon, enabling energy to be transferred to the Felton plant for integration into the system.
In the western region, Cuba's largest microsystem is awaiting the activation of the Energás plant. This will facilitate the distribution of electricity to various substations in Havana, as well as the Mariel and Santa Cruz thermoelectric plants, and the floating power stations. Until these units are operational, the distribution of power across circuits cannot commence.
The MEM official noted that the failure at the Diezmero substation does not impede the National Electric System's (SEN) interconnection efforts. Authorities emphasize their relentless work to reconnect the SEN amid the frustration and skepticism of millions of Cubans.
A video shared by journalist Mario Herrera from Canal Habana reveals details of the incident that occurred at 8:15 PM on Friday at the Diezmero substation in the San Miguel del Padrón municipality, which led to the system's collapse. Ariel Mas Castellanos, director of substations for the capital's Electric Company, explained that a failure in the line's insulation, due to aging infrastructure, caused the issue. "It’s outdated," he admitted.
Mas Castellanos elaborated that the antiquated nature of the system has hindered the replacement of the faulty part, as similar components are unavailable on the international market. Despite these challenges, he announced that once power generation begins, service to the capital will be restored, although he did not address the situation outside Havana.
The Electric Union has stated that service recovery is being conducted through microsystems, a strategy aimed at providing energy to specific areas and essential facilities while efforts to restart thermoelectric plants continue.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What caused the massive blackout in Cuba?
The blackout was caused by a failure at the Diezmero substation in Havana, due to aging infrastructure and insulation issues.
How is Cuba addressing the power outage?
Cuba is using a strategy involving microsystems to supply power to critical areas and working to restart thermoelectric plants for broader restoration.
What are microsystems in Cuba's power strategy?
Microsystems are smaller energy networks designed to provide electricity to specific regions and vital infrastructure during large-scale outages.