After being offline for over three months, Unit 3 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes thermoelectric plant in Cienfuegos was reconnected to the National Electric System (SEN) at 7:35 p.m. this Thursday, as announced by the facility on its official Facebook page. The plant had been out of operation since the beginning of the year due to a turbine malfunction, which significantly impaired its power generation capabilities, according to official media such as Cubadebate.
During this downtime, technical teams from various provinces worked tirelessly on repairs, which were successfully completed this week. Juan Bravo Núñez, the plant's technical director, stated that following the successful synchronization of Unit 3, efforts will now shift to Unit 4. This unit requires a comprehensive upgrade of its boiler to ensure greater stability in electricity production.
The government claims this development provides a "partial relief" to Cuba's beleaguered electrical grid, which is beset by chronic energy shortages due to ongoing technical failures and a lack of maintenance. Cubans, enduring blackouts lasting up to 20 hours, argue that the regime is concealing the fact that it lacks the fuel needed to ensure consistent service. Some suggest that the energy crisis has become a tool of state control.
On the eve of significant national celebrations marked by parades and patriotic displays, the Cuban Electric Union (UNE) announced a seemingly miraculous reduction in the power generation deficit. Following weeks of power outages exceeding 1,500 to even 1,800 megawatts of daily disruption, the official forecast for Thursday's peak usage dropped below 1,200 MW.
The state-run company reported that as of 7:00 a.m., the National Electric System had an availability of 1,985 MW against a demand of 2,450 MW, leaving 550 MW affected by capacity shortfall. However, disruptions surged again by Friday.
Cuba's Energy Crisis: Key Questions and Answers
What caused the downtime of the Cienfuegos power plant?
The Cienfuegos power plant was offline due to a malfunction in its turbine, which halted its electricity generation capabilities.
How has the Cuban government responded to the energy crisis?
The Cuban government claims the reconnection of the Cienfuegos plant provides partial relief, though the crisis persists due to ongoing maintenance issues and fuel shortages.
How have Cubans been affected by the power outages?
Cubans have faced blackouts lasting up to 20 hours, with many accusing the government of using the energy crisis as a means of control.