The Cuban government has announced that it is "taking advantage" of the widespread blackout affecting the island to conduct maintenance at the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant in Matanzas, the country's largest electricity generator. The disconnection from the National Electroenergetic System (SEN) has left much of the nation without power since Friday night, impacting millions of Cubans who remain without service.
Authorities revealed they are performing "25 maintenance actions" at the plant, which were initially scheduled for the following week. Elmer García, head of maintenance at Guiteras, explained to Periódico Girón that one of the priority tasks involves addressing a "hot spot" in the boiler, where deteriorated plates and thermal insulation have been repaired. "This allows us greater reliability in the area by restoring the damaged plates and thermal insulation, a task that has been completed," stated the engineer.
Meanwhile, the plant's director, Rubén Campos Olmos, noted that starting the plant from a "cold state" requires at least six hours, with an additional hour for synchronization with the SEN. "We are waiting to receive energy from the interior to initiate the start-up. We have used this time to work on some critical points. Since we had to decompress the boiler to fix the leak in the steam-water scheme, it leads us to a shutdown from the cold state of the boiler," Campos Olmos explained.
The government had previously stated on March 11 that Guiteras would be taken out of service for a "brief maintenance." However, the collapse of the SEN on Friday, March 14, disrupted the authorities' plans, leading them to "take advantage" of the general blackout to address "hot spots" and other issues at the Matanzas plant.
Despite these efforts, Cuba's electrical crisis shows no signs of abating, with the widespread blackout causing significant discontent among the population. Citizens are voicing their frustration on social media over the lack of clear information and concrete solutions from the government. According to a survey conducted by CiberCuba via social media, over 90% of Cubans reported being without electricity throughout Saturday, paralyzing economic activities and affecting essential services.
The government attempts to justify the crisis with "technical problems," but the situation highlights the deterioration of the energy system, characterized by a lack of investment and aging power plants.
Understanding Cuba's Electrical Crisis
What is causing the widespread blackout in Cuba?
The blackout is attributed to a collapse of the National Electroenergetic System (SEN), exacerbated by a lack of investment and aging infrastructure in Cuba's power plants.
How is the Cuban government addressing the blackout?
The government claims to be using the blackout to conduct maintenance on the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant, addressing critical issues that were initially scheduled for later maintenance.
How has the blackout impacted the Cuban population?
The blackout has left millions without electricity, paralyzing economic activities and affecting essential services, leading to widespread frustration and criticism of the government's handling of the crisis.