Late Sunday night into early Monday morning, Havana experienced yet another massive blackout, leaving much of the city without power for the second time in under a month. According to statements from the Havana Electric Company and the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the outage stemmed from a major malfunction at the Naranjito substation, which triggered a domino effect impacting other critical parts of the capital's electric grid.
Extensive and Simultaneous Impact Across Havana
The Electric Company reported on its official Facebook page that the malfunction at the Naranjito substation directly affected the Príncipe, Melones, and Tallapiedra substations. This chain reaction led to service disruptions in numerous neighborhoods, including Arroyo Naranjo, Boyeros, Diez de Octubre, Plaza de la Revolución, Cerro, Centro Habana, Habana Vieja, Playa, La Lisa, Marianao, San Miguel del Padrón, Cotorro, Guanabacoa, and Habana del Este.
The company assured that efforts are ongoing to restore service to affected consumers, with priority given to circuits supplying power to hospitals and water supply sources.
Ripple Effects on the National Power System
The Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed that the disruption extended beyond Havana, affecting the National Electric System (SEN). Initial reports indicated that the failure led to the disconnection of Mariel 6, ENERGAS, and Moa engines from the SEN. As a result, the energy impact was not confined to Havana alone.
Later communications from the ministry revealed that recovery efforts were underway, with Moa engines being synchronized and ENERGAS Varadero gradually re-integrating into the SEN. The Ministry continues to assess and address the root causes of the breakdown in Havana's electric network.
Gradual Recovery and Focus on Essential Services
According to a statement shared by Cubadebate, the restoration of electricity began in areas like Cerro, Plaza de la Revolución, and Diez de Octubre during the early hours of Monday morning. The latest updates indicate that power has been restored to all hospitals in the capital, as well as to major water supply sources. However, as of the end of this report, it remains unclear which areas of Havana still face outages and where power has been fully restored.
The Union Eléctrica (UNE) had estimated a nationwide impact of up to 1,675 MW during peak hours on Sunday. Following the breakdown at the Havana substation, it is likely that the number of outages increased significantly.
Recent Precedent: The July 17 Blackout
On July 17, Havana also experienced a widespread blackout due to another malfunction in the power network. At that time, the Ministry of Energy and Mines reported that substations at 110 kV, including Naranjito, Apolo, Melones, San Agustín, Talla Piedra, and Príncipe, were affected. Key floating generation units, known as patanas, at Melones were also taken offline, disrupting the capital’s power supply for several hours.
The authorities attributed that incident to "electrical discharges," which caused multiple substations to trip, leaving crucial parts of the city without electricity.
Frequently Asked Questions about Havana's Power Outages
What caused the recent blackout in Havana?
The recent blackout was caused by a major malfunction at the Naranjito substation, which affected other parts of the capital's electric grid.
Which areas were most affected by the blackout?
Neighborhoods such as Arroyo Naranjo, Boyeros, Diez de Octubre, and others experienced service disruptions.
How is the restoration process progressing?
Restoration efforts are ongoing, with priority given to essential services like hospitals and water supply sources.