The 'Carlos Manuel de Céspedes' thermoelectric plant in Cienfuegos is gradually inching towards recovery after months of sporadic operations. This past Friday, plant technicians announced the successful completion of safety valve tests on Block 3. "Safety valve tests on Block 3 of the Cienfuegos Thermoelectric Company have been successfully completed... Only the flushing process of the turbine remains before the block can be started," declared the state-run company on social media.
According to their announcement, the boiler pressure was increased until it triggered the valves under technical supervision. With the test complete, plant executives announced the next phase of recovery, which involves the "flushing" process—a technical maneuver designed to clean the piping systems and ensure their readiness before syncing with the National Electric System (SEN).
This series of actions, prominently featured on official channels, is part of a narrative aimed at projecting an image of controlled progress towards restoring power generation capacity. As the nation's energy crisis worsens, the Cuban regime employs a communication strategy crafted to simulate transparency and efficiency.
Prolonged Crisis Timeline
The decline of the Cienfuegos power plant is not a recent development. Back in August 2024, the government acknowledged the need to gradually restore the plant's generation capacity, already admitting the material and technical constraints plaguing the system. In October, an unexpected disconnection from the national grid exacerbated blackouts countrywide. By November, while a malfunction in Block 4 was reportedly fixed, full restoration never materialized.
Entering 2025, officials vowed the plant would be operational by mid-April, yet these promises were dashed on January 16th when a major fire severely damaged Block 4. Just days later, it was confirmed that the blaze caused significant harm, forcing yet another delay in its reintegration. Despite this, in February, without credible signs of recovery, Miguel Díaz-Canel's government once more promised a swift reactivation, maintaining a narrative of progress starkly at odds with the harsh reality of the energy crisis.
"Flushing": A New Chapter in Piecemeal Announcements
The recent announcement regarding the onset of "flushing" fits within this same fragmented communication strategy. This procedure, which involves cleaning hydraulic systems by circulating fluids at high pressure, is a necessary preparatory step but does not instantly equate to effective generation capacity. Nonetheless, its public disclosure was framed as a significant advancement, reinforcing the impression of active work on resolving the issue.
Similar to the safety valve tests, the "flushing" was presented with technical detail, as part of a series of stages intended to suggest that the block's restoration is imminent.
Controlled Information Release to Feign Progress
The Cuban regime has opted to release information about the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant in segments, breaking down each phase of the process into numerous announcements: initial repair promises, followed by "successful tests," and now intermediate technical procedures. Ultimately, this tactic seeks to create a perception of continuous advancement in crisis management.
Meanwhile, the country's energy reality deteriorates. This Friday, the Cuban Electrical Union (UNE) reported a projected generation shortfall of 1,800 megawatts (MW) during peak evening demand. For Saturday, the expected blackouts exceed 1,700 MW. Along with the damages at the Cienfuegos plant, breakdowns persist at the Mariel and Felton thermoelectric plants, scheduled maintenance is underway at Santa Cruz and Renté, and severe fuel shortages are impacting distributed generation facilities and the Mariel fuel plant.
Despite eight solar parks recently commencing operations, their contribution of 986 MWh barely mitigates the severe structural imbalance between generation and consumption. The partial recovery of the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant, communicated in a piecemeal and ceremonial manner, thus becomes a clear reflection of the regime's strategy: to showcase movement where there is scant real progress, in an attempt to uphold the official narrative of advancement amid the island's prolonged energy crisis.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis and Recovery Efforts
What is the current status of the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant?
The Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant is in a gradual recovery phase, with recent successful safety valve tests on Block 3, but it remains not fully operational.
What challenges does the Cuban energy sector currently face?
Cuba's energy sector faces several challenges including a projected generation shortfall, breakdowns at multiple thermoelectric plants, scheduled maintenance, and fuel shortages affecting distributed generation facilities.
How is the Cuban government communicating progress on the energy crisis?
The Cuban government employs a strategy of releasing information in segments, making multiple announcements about various stages of the recovery process, to create a perception of ongoing progress.