The energy crisis in Cuba deepened following the collapse of the National Electric System (SEN) on Friday, March 14, putting immense pressure on a government struggling to manage the situation. Amidst the chaos triggered by the widespread blackout that has left millions without electricity, the state-run Electric Union (UNE) announced on Facebook this Sunday that the "Lidio Ramón Pérez" (Felton) thermoelectric plant is back online, generating 190 MW from its first unit. However, this contribution falls short of stabilizing a system facing one of its worst crises in recent memory.
In recent days, the island's power grid has been plagued by a series of catastrophic failures, including the shutdown of the "Antonio Guiteras" and "Carlos Manuel de Céspedes" plants, leading to the fourth SEN collapse in less than six months. Additionally, the failure of the so-called "micro electric systems," a strategy implemented by the regime to restore the SEN, has proven inadequate in the face of such a severe crisis.
Power Struggles in Eastern Cuba
In eastern Cuba, where Felton plays a crucial role in power generation, authorities have focused their efforts over the past 72 hours on attempting to restore service following the SEN collapse. The partial reactivation of Felton aims to mitigate the energy deficit in provinces like Santiago de Cuba, Granma, and Guantánamo, where outages have been frequent and prolonged. Nevertheless, the fragility of the system and insufficient power generation have prevented a stable supply across the region.
Attempting to justify the crisis, the government claims that the power cuts are being used to carry out maintenance work on generating plants. In Havana, over 98% of customers remained without electricity on Saturday, with the situation even more critical in other provinces.
Public Outcry and Government's Ineptitude
The population, weary of official excuses, has taken to social media to decry the lack of solutions and the inadequacy of government responses. The absence of investment in infrastructure, coupled with the government's inability to manage the crisis, has rendered the situation untenable. While Felton's partial operation provides temporary relief, experts warn that the SEN remains in a critical state and the energy deficit will continue to impact the population in the coming days. Meanwhile, social unrest and uncertainty are on the rise, calling into question the regime's capacity to handle the crisis.
Timeline of Felton Plant Failures
1. January 4, 2024: The Felton thermoelectric plant experiences a failure in Unit 1, exacerbating the energy shortfall in eastern Cuba, resulting in prolonged blackouts in Holguín and nearby provinces.
2. January 28, 2024: Unit 1 of Felton undergoes extended maintenance due to technical issues identified after its last system outage. This reduction causes a significant deficit for the SEN.
3. February 12, 2024: UNE confirms that Felton remains offline, with repairs progressing slowly due to a shortage of spare parts.
4. February 24, 2024: Felton reconnects to the SEN after nearly two months of inactivity, but power generation remains unstable.
5. March 8, 2024: The Felton plant goes offline again following a new failure, worsening the island’s energy crisis amidst ongoing blackouts.
6. March 15, 2024: Unit 1 of Felton is out of service amidst the SEN collapse, coinciding with failures at the "Antonio Guiteras" and "Carlos Manuel de Céspedes" plants, severely impacting national power generation.
7. March 16, 2024: UNE announces the partial reintegration of Felton into the SEN with 190 MW. This reactivation is part of efforts to alleviate the crisis in the eastern region, though it does not resolve the system's instability.
Understanding the Cuban Power Crisis
What caused the recent collapse of Cuba's National Electric System?
The recent collapse was triggered by multiple failures within key power plants, including "Antonio Guiteras" and "Carlos Manuel de Céspedes," alongside insufficient generation capacity to meet demand.
How is the government addressing the power outages?
The government claims that power cuts are being utilized for maintenance on generating plants, though many view this as an inadequate response to the crisis.
What role does the Felton plant play in the current energy situation?
The Felton plant is critical for power generation in eastern Cuba, and its partial reactivation aims to help mitigate the energy deficit in the region.