Marti substation in Matanzas reported affected by a major fire

What happened

A Cuban News Agency report dated 28 October 2022 said the Marti substation plant, in the industrial zone of Matanzas, Cuba, had been affected by a major fire the previous August. The report describes recovery work, including adaptation of a new control house for a diesel engine battery and assembly of a set of 110 kW three-phase blades. It said modifications then under way would allow diesel engines to deliver around 10 megawatts to the power system, and that assembly of metallic structures was scheduled for the following month.

It also reported reconstruction of power supply lines for the engines and pumps of the deep water dock. How the fire started, what was damaged, and whether anyone was hurt are not reported.

Contributing factors

Not reported. The article is a recovery update and does not state a cause.

Lessons learned

1. After a fire that affects a substation, confirm which supplies were lost, including supplies to fuel-handling docks, before returning generation.
2. Treat reinstatement of the control house and associated equipment as a separate task from returning engines to service.
3. Record what is known about damage and what is still unknown, rather than inferring a cause from recovery work alone.

Source

cubanews.acn.cu