Vehicle Inspection in Sancti Spíritus Nearly Halted by Power Outages and Disconnections

The ongoing energy crisis in Cuba has brought the Centro Sancti Spíritus Technical Inspection Plant, the sole facility of its kind in the province, to a near standstill. Commonly referred to as the "somatón," this plant's operations have been severely disrupted, as reported by Escambray this past Saturday.

Positioned in El Chambelón and under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation, the plant is tasked with servicing vehicles from state-run enterprises and organizations across all municipalities in Sancti Spíritus, in addition to private transporters handling cargo or passengers. However, prolonged power outages have drastically curtailed its operational capacity, posing significant challenges as the end of the year approaches.

Javier Echemendía Martínez, the supervisor responsible for overseeing the technological processes, highlighted the severity of the issue: "Occasionally, if electricity is available for at least three hours in the morning, we can attend to about 20 clients, whereas under normal circumstances, we would handle 80 or more daily."

This predicament is particularly alarming given the frequency of traffic accidents claiming Cuban lives. The poor state of the roads, combined with vehicles in dire conditions, exacerbates the risk of such incidents.

Fuel Shortages and Power Cuts Compound the Crisis

In Sancti Spíritus, the lack of electricity is compounded by a fuel shortage, creating a vicious cycle. Echemendía Martínez explained, "Many drivers report that their entities do not provide them with the necessary fuel to attend the technical inspection. Even if they were given fuel, they risk wasting it on a trip that might be futile due to power failures. Furthermore, companies and organizations stipulate that fuel is only allocated to vehicles that have passed the somatón."

In essence, without approval from the somatón, no fuel is assigned, yet without fuel, reaching the somatón is impossible. Echemendía Martínez stressed the primary issue: "The most critical problem is the lack of electrical power, as our equipment relies on energy to operate."

Communication Breakdown Adds to Challenges

Compounding these issues is the loss of telephone communication in the area, caused by the theft of a solar panel from the telephone cabinet near Rancho Hatuey. Consequently, customers connected to this network only receive service when electricity is available.

Over the years, technical inspection plants in Cuba have been linked to corruption, with drivers paying bribes to technicians for passing their vehicles without issues, allowing them to remain on the road. The system in Sancti Spíritus is fully automated and digitalized, as detailed by Yander Quintana Pérez, an IT specialist at the facility. He told the state media that the plant operates with advanced technology, providing real-time information about vehicles, including photos, engine numbers, and chassis numbers. The national director can monitor the process remotely from anywhere in the country.

Nationwide Energy Crisis Takes a Toll

The national electrical crisis affecting the province is unprecedented. The Union Eléctrica announced the availability of only 970 MW against a demand of 2,800 MW, leading to an anticipated shortfall of 1,860 MW during peak hours. This deteriorating situation has resulted in at least eight total collapses of the National Electric System this year alone.

In June, power outages in Sancti Spíritus exceeded 50 continuous hours, with the provincial electric company handling between 90 and 120 daily fault reports.

Despite the order and discipline reported at the El Chambelón Technical Inspection Plant by Escambray, there seems to be no immediate solution to the ongoing issues hindering its performance, as the year draws to a close and fewer vehicles are fit for the mandatory inspection.