The restoration of electrical service in Santiago de Cuba is progressing slowly, despite the deployment of national and international brigades working at various substations and circuits throughout the province. Authorities are hopeful of restoring power to the urban area before the weekend, although they acknowledge that the entire process will take weeks.
Substations with heavy workload
At the Pavón substation, where the main circuits are concentrated, local technicians are addressing the most affected areas. Circuit 9, which supplies power to the international airport, is expected to be operational by Friday.
Meanwhile, at the East substation, work is being carried out by a contingent from Havana, and at the North substation, brigades from Cienfuegos and Sancti Spíritus are working. Circuits 20 and 21 were assigned to specialists from Pinar del Río, although they still have serious problems.
Severe damage and long-term goals
According to the Santiago de Cuba Electric Company, winds of up to 205 kilometers per hour during the cyclone caused extensive damage. Complete repairs could take between 30 and 35 working days, with a commitment to finish within a maximum of 30 days from November 1st.
In the initial phase, priority is being given to ensuring that primary circuits and over 90% of transformers are operational. In the urban area alone, 3.981 transformers are awaiting inspection and reconnection.
Uneven progress among municipalities
The crews have already restored power to the La Maya, Segundo Frente, Contramaestre, Palma, and San Luis areas. However, Mella and Tercer Frente remain without service due to the age of the power lines and the difficult terrain.
The re schedulecupThe government dedicates the first 14 working days to the city of Santiago, while rural and mountainous areas —including El Cobre and the areas north of the highway— will be served until the 30th.
Current state of the circuits
According to reports, circuits 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 10 are now partially operational. Circuit 9 remains one of the most affected, with more than 30 downed poles in Altamira and areas near the airport. Circuit 236, located along the Carretera Central highway, also sustained severe damage.
Circuit 21 shows numerous damaged transformers, while circuit 14, served by a Havana contingent, shows more visible progress.
The general manager of the Electric Company in the province, Javier Calero Román, highlighted the importance of the preparatory work and the coordination between the technical teams, as it allows "accelerating the installation and improving the public perception of the effort being made."
The situation remains complex, and although the population is beginning to notice improvements in some neighborhoods, blackouts persist in large areas of the eastern territory.