Matanzas: A malfunction at a thermoelectric power plant in Cuba that caused a widespread blackout on Wednesday has been fixed, authorities said. A false signal of overheated steam caused the automatic shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant in the western province of Matanzas, said Ruben Campos, the facility’s director general.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the plant is one of the largest power stations in Cuba and the incident caused the collapse of the island’s national electricity system at 9:14 a.m. local time (1314 GMT). This is the fifth general blackout to hit the island in less than a year.

Just two days ago, the five easternmost provinces were left without electricity due to another fault in a 220-kilowatt line. Aging thermoelectric plants and a lack of fuel are the main causes of recurring blackouts on the island.

The government blames the six-decade-long trade embargo imposed by the United States, which makes it impossible to access the foreign currency it needs to run and ren
ovate its infrastructure.