The energy crisis in Cuba continues to worsen due to the lack of fuel, which has left several of the Turkish plants in charge of electricity generation out of service.
These floating plants, installed in strategic ports in the country such as Mariel, Havana and Santiago de Cuba, face difficulties that aggravate the already critical situation of the National Electroenergy System (SEN).
Floating plants out of service due to lack of fuel
Cuban journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso reported through his social networks that the Turkish boats that operate in Mariel and Santiago de Cuba are inoperative due to lack of fuel.
The plant located in Mariel has been without fuel for two days because the ship transporting it has not been able to dock at the port due to the weather conditions associated with Hurricane Helene. It is expected that the ship can enter the port at noon this Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Santiago de Cuba plant is completely shut down, also due to the lack of fuel. The situation is not much better for the floating plant in Havana, which is operating at a minimum level for the same reason. According to the Cuban Electrical Union (UNE), the ship that will supply fuel to this infrastructure will arrive on Sunday.
Recent incident in the Havana swamp
In addition to supply problems, the Havana floating power plant suffered a fire while carrying out welding work, which left eight people injured. One of those affected, a Turkish national, is in serious condition. Fortunately, the fire did not affect the motors of the boat, so the electricity generation has not suffered major damage in this unit.
Blackouts on the rise
The fuel shortage in the Patanas adds to the chronic problems faced by the SEN, which has caused an increase in the duration and frequency of blackouts. During Friday night, the UNE reported an impact of 1,218 MW, and by Saturday morning more than 800 MW were still off. According to forecasts, this deficit will increase throughout the day, reaching more than 900 MW by midday. For the evening peak hour, a blackout of 1,221 MW is estimated, prolonging the situation of energy shortage suffered by Cubans.
A recurring problem
The situation with Turkish patanas is not new. In April of this year, the UNE had already reported similar supply problems in the plantations located in Moa and Santiago de Cuba. This type of floating facilities, which have operated in Cuba since 2019, are the result of an agreement between the Cuban regime and the Turkish company Karadeniz Holding. Although the arrival of a fourth patana was announced in November 2021, the exact number of these plants currently operating in the country remains uncertain.
In the midst of the worsening energy crisis, blackouts lasting more than 12 hours, the shortage of basic products and the deterioration of living conditions, the lack of fuel for Turkish farms adds a new level of difficulty to the already complicated reality of the Cuban population.
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