What is the update on the restoration of the electrical system in Cuba?

On Tuesday, October 22, officials from the National Electric Union of Cuba provided updates on the process of restoring the national electrical system, following its total disconnection on Friday, October 18, 2024.

Lázaro Guerra, General Director of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, reported on Tuesday in the TV Show Buenos Días, on Cuban Television, that the subsystem of the western zone was further consolidated yesterday.

On Friday, October 18, there was a collapse of the electrical system, caused, according to the Government, by a failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric power plant, located in the province of Matanzas, 100 kilometers east of Havana.

The failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric power plant caused a total disconnection of the energy system. The Government declared an "electric emergency" and a day earlier ordered the "suspension of all state labor activities" that are not essential.

Electrical restoration in numbers as of October 22, 20224

According to the report from the National Electric Union at 8:30 am on October 22, 2024:

- More than 95% of customers in Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Havana, Mayabeque, Las Tunas, and Holguín have service.

- Between 40% and 60% are in the provinces of Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey, and Granma.

The Matanzas broadcaster, TV Yumurí, reported on its Facebook account that the province has 63 percent of the 186,602 customers with electrical service: "Service is still pending for Calimete, Los Arabos, part of Jagüey, Santa Marta, and Varadero," they specified.

- The provinces with the least availability at this time are Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo.

- About 70% of the country's customers have service, and more than 1,400 MW are being served.