The ongoing energy crisis in Cuba worsened on Tuesday as three generating units at the Energás Jaruco plant in Mayabeque unexpectedly went offline. This facility is a critical component of the national electricity grid. The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) announced via their official Facebook page that at 3:19 PM, units 3, 4, and 6 were shut down following a "water feed pump trip," necessitating an emergency protocol to try and restore power.
This technical failure exacerbates an already dire situation for the National Electrical System (SEN), which is currently suffering from a generation deficit exceeding 1,700 MW, as per the latest official reports. The breakdown at Jaruco could further aggravate the situation, removing a stable and continuous energy source for the western part of the country.
Located in Mayabeque province, the Energás Jaruco plant is the result of a joint venture between Cuba and Canada, using natural gas accompanying local oil to produce electricity. The plant's partial or complete shutdown immediately impacts the energy availability in western Cuba, home to over three million people.
Lack of investment, an aging thermoelectric infrastructure, and resource shortages continue to deepen the country's energy collapse. This month has seen some of the highest levels of power outages of the year, with nearly 50% of the nation experiencing disruptions during peak demand hours.
Just a week ago, the Cuban regime added another unusual explanation to its long list of reasons for the failing SEN: sargassum was blamed for taking a generating unit at Energás Jaruco offline, also in Mayabeque province.
In another development, the UNE reported on social media about a malfunction in the boiler of unit 1 at the Lidio Ramón Pérez thermoelectric plant, also known as Felton. This issue forced operations to halt, initiating a cooling process around 11:40 PM on Saturday night.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What caused the shutdown of Energás Jaruco units?
The shutdown was caused by a trip of the water feed pump at units 3, 4, and 6, which led to an emergency protocol to attempt power restoration.
How does the failure at Energás Jaruco affect western Cuba?
The failure removes a key source of stable and continuous energy, impacting over three million residents in western Cuba.
What are the broader issues facing Cuba's energy system?
Cuba's energy system suffers from lack of investment, aging infrastructure, and resource shortages, which have led to increased power outages.