Juan Bravo Núñez, the technical director of the "Carlos Manuel de Céspedes" power plant, has shared new information about the recent fire at the Cienfuegos facility. In a video released by official channels, Bravo Núñez explained that at 10:20 a.m. on Thursday, an "electrical accident" occurred in the 6kv room of unit 3 at the power plant.
The director detailed that the room experienced "considerable damage," but fire-fighting brigades and provincial firefighting troops responded promptly. He further mentioned that the blaze extended to unit 4 and described the situation as a "significant issue." Regarding human casualties, Bravo Núñez noted that some workers experienced "shortness of breath" and received medical evaluations.
Concluding his statement, Bravo Núñez mentioned that assessments of the damage and investigations into the fire's cause were underway. In recent developments, the Cuban Electric Union (UNE) announced on social media that Ramiro Valdés, a Commander of the Revolution, along with UNE director Alfredo López, visited the site. "At the time of this update, strategies are being formulated. The commitment of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes workforce is to work hard and recover," the UNE stated.
Concerns have been voiced by many Cubans on social media regarding this new electrical disaster, fearing it may lead to more power outages for the populace. Radio Ciudad del Mar clarified that the incident does not worsen the national energy system's condition, as both units of the power plant—totaling about 316 MW—were already offline from the National Electric System (SEN) due to maintenance at the time of the fire.
Meanwhile, Cuba's energy crisis continues to deepen, with longer power cuts each day. A peak hour disruption of 1,550 MW is expected this Friday.
Update on Recovery Efforts
According to UNE's General Director, Ing. Alfredo López Valdés, the recovery of the fire-damaged areas will align with the scheduled maintenance of Unit #3. He emphasized that the work will not delay the machine's operation, and maintenance for Blocks 3 and 4 will proceed as planned. Resources are currently being secured to restore the electrical systems damaged by the fire.
On Friday morning, Vicente O Levy, the Minister of Energy and Mines, visited the fire-damaged facilities to assess the situation personally.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cienfuegos Power Plant Fire
What caused the fire at the Cienfuegos power plant?
The fire was reportedly caused by an "electrical accident" in the 6kv room of unit 3, as per Juan Bravo Núñez, the technical director of the plant.
Were there any injuries due to the fire?
Some workers experienced shortness of breath but were medically evaluated and no severe injuries have been reported.
How does this incident affect the national power supply?
According to Radio Ciudad del Mar, the incident does not worsen the national energy supply as the affected units were already offline for maintenance.
What steps are being taken to recover from the fire?
Efforts are underway to recover the affected areas, aligning with the scheduled maintenance of Unit #3, without delaying operations. Resources are being gathered to restore damaged systems.