Crisis in Cuba: The island once again faces a total blackout after the process of restoring electricity service fails

This Saturday, all of Cuba was left without electricity again Following the failure of the recovery process of the National Electric System (SEN), which had started the day before, a total blackout caused by a fault in a thermoelectric plant.

Then the process of reactivating and restarting the SEN began, gradually creating some areas with current in some parts of the country, with the aim of expanding them and enabling them to reach thermoelectric plants and restart them. Had to be joined together to become capable. But A new “total disconnection” wiped out small advances,

,The National Electroenergy System completely shut down at 6:15 am today. Electrical association works on its restoration“, the State Electricity Union (UNE) reported on social networks.

As reported by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM), the SEN collapsed this Friday morning due to a fault in the Guiteras thermoelectric plant, one of the country’s main generators. an incident occurredzero national energy coverage“, A Complete blackout across the country,

The situation was already there”energy emergency“, as the country’s dictator said this Thursday, Miguel Diaz-CanelAfter the energy crisis deepened in recent weeks. There were days with an effect rate of 50% this week,

Therefore, The government had stopped all non-essential state work activities from Friday.From the agenda of ministers to schools.

Diaz-Canel also said that “there will be no rest“Until electrical service is reestablished on the island and it is emphasized that “The situation is “tense” and complex.”According to state television news.

SEN is in a very precarious position due to Fuel shortages – the result of a lack of foreign currency to import it – and frequent breakdowns in obsolete thermoelectric plants.With four decades of exploitation and chronic lack of investment.

Blackouts have been common for many years, but the situation has worsened since late August Until reaching the same levels as the worst moments, such as the beginning of this year and in July and August of 2021 and 2022.

In recent years, the Cuban regime has rented several temporary power plants to alleviate the shortage of generating capacity.

Frequent blackouts hurt Cuba’s economy -According to official data, which declined by 1.9% in 2023 and is still below 2019 levels- and promote social unrest In a society affected by an economic crisis that has worsened in recent years.

They have also sparked anti-government protests, including demonstrations on July 11, 2021 – the largest in decades – and on March 17 in Santiago de Cuba (East) and elsewhere.

,I have a lot of disappointment, frustration and despair“Cuban says tania ramirez39 years old, walking alone havana malecon To relieve the stress caused by a massive blackout that keeps the entire island in darkness.

“It is not only the shortage of electricity, but also the shortage of gas, water,” the housewife tells the news agency. AFP11 hours after the island’s main thermoelectric plant unexpectedly shut down the electrical system completely collapsed Of the country.

With a furrowed brow, this woman explains that her “The generation wants to continue to trust“, in the Castro revolution, but his “There are limits to flexibility,

Cuban officials were trying to restore the collapsed national electricity system Left a country of 10 crore inhabitants in darkness,

Unexpected departure of thermoelectric plant antonio guitarresLocated in the western province of Matanzas and the most important in the country, caused collapse of the national electricity systemIt was reported on state television this afternoon, lazaro guerraDirector General of Power, Ministry of Energy and Mines.

When the thermoelectric plant went out of service, “The system collapsed, i.e. is at absolute zero since that timeGuerra said, ensuring that the regime is working to restore service as soon as possible.

As night fell, the only lights illuminating the capital of two million inhabitants were hotels, hospitals and a few private businesses that had their own production plants. The roads looked practically empty, there was no public transport and even the traffic lights were off. The situation did not change this Saturday morning.

(With information from EFE, Europa Press and AFP)