In the midst of relentless rainstorms battering eastern Cuba, two units at the Antonio Maceo Thermoelectric Plant, commonly known as Renté in Santiago de Cuba, ceased operations this past Sunday. According to the Cuban Electric Union's Facebook update, Unit 3 was disconnected at 4:07 PM due to low vacuum, followed shortly by Unit 5 at 4:14 PM, though the exact reason for the latter's failure remains unidentified.
This breakdown exacerbates an already fragile national power grid, plagued by significant disruptions in recent days. The timing coincides with heavy rainfall in the eastern region, triggering river overflows, floods, landslides, and the collapse of at least ten homes.
Currently, there is no information on when these malfunctioning units might resume operation or how much energy loss this represents for the grid. The company has committed to keeping the public updated through its official channels.
Renté Power Plant continues to exhibit signs of structural failure. Recently, Unit 3 was once again brought offline just hours after being synchronized, following a new malfunction. This incident adds to multiple previous failures in the same unit over recent weeks, directly impacting the power supply in eastern Cuba.
Not long ago, the plant suffered another unit outage, further diminishing Renté's already limited contribution to the national power system. This latest failure coincided with reports of severe blackouts across several eastern provinces, where power cuts have become a commonplace issue. The state-run company conceded that operational stability was not achieved despite ongoing recovery efforts.
In light of these recurring failures, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel assured during a visit to the plant that Renté would achieve "sustained stability." His remarks, however, ring hollow given the reality of the situation, characterized by frequent outages, ineffective maintenance, and growing public skepticism towards official statements.
Impact of Power Plant Failures in Cuba
What caused the failure of the thermoelectric plant units?
The failure of Unit 3 was due to low vacuum, while the cause of Unit 5's breakdown is still under investigation.
How are the power outages affecting eastern Cuba?
Eastern Cuba is experiencing severe blackouts, with power cuts becoming a routine part of life due to the repeated failures of the Renté Power Plant.
Has the government provided any solutions to the power crisis?
Despite promises from Miguel Díaz-Canel of achieving "sustained stability," the ongoing maintenance efforts have yet to resolve the power crisis effectively.