Technicians at the Antonio Maceo Thermoelectric Power Plant, widely known as Renté in Santiago de Cuba, are still unable to pinpoint the cause of the malfunction that has taken several units offline, leaving the National Electric System in suspense. Jesús Aguilar Hernández, the plant's director, informed the provincial television station Tele Turquino that although "there were no fires at the facilities, the electrical system failure persists." Specialists are conducting inspections and diagnostics to move forward with the necessary repairs.
"We are carrying out a detailed analysis to identify the exact causes of the issue. Our efforts are focused on restoring the plant's operation as swiftly as possible, with our specialized technicians having full control of the situation," Aguilar assured.
This statement contrasts with an explanation provided by the Unión Eléctrica (UNE) the previous day, which mentioned a failure in the 6-kilovolt line of unit four, leading to a technical drop that resulted in a fire, which was extinguished by the internal brigade and the fire department. The extent of the damage and the recovery time were not specified.
Ongoing Challenges and Public Reactions
Additionally, on the same day, unit six went offline just a day after it had been synchronized. On Wednesday, at 6:49 PM, Renté's unit three was disconnected due to "low vacuum," merely 89 minutes after being reconnected to the National Electric System (SEN). It had been brought online at 5:20 PM, and shortly after, at 5:38 PM, unit six was synchronized. Initially, this was announced as a relief for power generation in the eastern region of the country, but that turned out to be far from the truth.
Aguilar explained to the official press on Tuesday that units three, five, and six were out of operation due to recent heavy rains, while technical crews attempted to start unit six to contribute around 50 MW to the SEN, which was achieved the following day.
Public Outcry Over Power Outages
Even though authorities insist there are no "serious consequences" for the system, blackouts have multiplied, and the population endures power cuts of up to 20 hours or more, with only brief periods of electricity. "There are indeed serious consequences," stated one resident: "a dark city and a populace that can no longer endure."
Social media comments are increasingly critical: Residents are decrying patchwork fixes, lack of fuel, poorly repaired equipment, and an unsustainable daily life without electricity, gas, or water.
Understanding the Power Crisis in Cuba
What caused the power plant shutdown at Renté?
Technicians are still trying to determine the exact cause, but it involves a failure in the electrical system. A previous explanation by the UNE mentioned a failure in a 6-kilovolt line leading to a fire.
How are residents affected by the power outages?
Residents are experiencing extensive blackouts, sometimes lasting up to 20 hours or more, severely impacting their daily lives without consistent electricity, gas, or water.
What actions are being taken to resolve the issue?
Specialists are conducting detailed analyses and diagnostics to identify the problem's cause, with efforts focused on restoring the plant's operation as soon as possible.