ELECTRA warns of power cuts due to lack of investment
The new ELECTRA board cites underinvestment since 2015 and broken equipment as causes for ongoing power outages.
The new board of ELECTRA Sociedades has identified a lack of essential investments since 2015 and breakdowns in three production units at the Palmarejo plant in Praia as the main reasons for recent power cuts affecting customers. The team, led by Pedro Lima da Rocha, also warned of a significant financial imbalance but pledged to restore operational capacity.
The board found that all thermal production capacity at Palmarejo was installed by 2015, with no sufficient investments made since then to renew, modernise, or expand it. Of the 70,800 kilowatts (kW) of installed thermal power, only about 45,500 kW, or 64.3%, is currently available due to three broken production units and deteriorating equipment.
This situation leaves the electricity system vulnerable, especially during peak consumption periods. The immediate priority is to ensure available production meets demand, which requires approximately 43,500 kW for Santiago during peak hours. The board also noted degraded working conditions and employee demotivation.
Why it mattersCustomers in Praia are experiencing power cuts because of insufficient investment in electricity infrastructure and equipment failures.