Transformer explosion at Panama thermoelectric plant causes widespread power outage

What happened

A transformer exploded at the Pan-Am thermoelectric plant in La Chorrera, Panama, and reports said this led to a widespread power outage across most of the country. The National Public Services Authority (ASEP) confirmed that the outage affecting most of the country was caused by a transformer explosion and that crews were working to resolve the issue. The article, dated 17 March 2025, says the reports appeared on Sunday but does not give the time of the explosion, the restoration timeline or the number of customers affected. It also notes that a similar incident in 2023 resulted in a nationwide blackout lasting an extended period.

Contributing factors

Not reported. The source states only that a transformer exploded at the plant.

Lessons learned

1. A single transformer failure at a generating plant can cascade into an outage affecting most of a country, so operators should assess how much load depends on one unit and where the grid has no alternative supply path.
2. Large transformers at generating plants need fault protection and condition monitoring so that an internal failure is detected and isolated before it takes out wider supply.
3. After a major outage, operators and regulators should issue a clear public account of what failed and how supply was restored, particularly where a similar blackout has been reported before.

More lessons on outages, backup supply and restoration, detection and monitoring, from every incident on the register.

Source

anews.com.tr