The “gradual” restoration of electricity continues in Guadeloupe

The network was completely cut off on the island on Friday after the engines at the Jarry power station were shut down, amid social conflict.

The restoration of electricity continued in a “progressive” in Guadeloupe, Saturday October 26 in the morning. In total, 70,000 EDF customers still remain without electricity in Guadeloupe, the prefecture announced in a situation update at 11 a.m. local time. A little earlier, the electrician had announced that “65%” homes had been re-energized at 6:30 a.m. local time, twenty-four hours after a widespread outage throughout the archipelago. “In total, 80,500 customers were still without electricity”added EDF, specifying that the re-supply “will be progressive to ensure the stability of the electricity network”.

This widespread network outage was triggered by “illegal stop” of the engines of the EDF-PEI Jarry power station, which supplies the majority of electricity in the territory of nearly 380,000 inhabitants. The prefect and the president of the department denounced a “sabotage”while a social conflict has for several weeks opposed the energy branch of the CGT and the management of EDF Island Electric Production in the territory. The island is a non-interconnected area, which means that it must produce its own electricity to meet demand in the territory.

“EDF, via its subsidiary EDF-PEI, filed (Friday) a complaint against X for endangering others at the Pointe-à-Pitre police station”announced the company to AFP. The filing of this complaint was confirmed by the deputy prosecutor of Pointe-à-Pitre, Alexandra Onfray.

Shortly after the cut, the prefect Xavier Lefort accused “striking employees” of the Jarry power plant, which “entered the control room” et “caused the emergency shutdown of all engines”. The police intervened inside to “secure the control room”explained the prefect, who also requisitioned the employees “necessary for operation” of the power station. Saturday morning, “seven engines out of the 12 at the Jarry power station” had been able to “be rebooted” after repairing a “emergency motors, specifically dedicated to restarting the electrical system”detailed EDF Archipel Guadeloupe.

The State representative also decreed on Friday the establishment of a “general curfew” throughout the territory, a measure lifted on Saturday at 6 a.m. According to the gendarmes, despite this curfew, several incidents of urban violence (barricades, burning trash cans) were noted during the night, notably in Baie-Mahault and Lamentin, without causing any injuries.

Mobile telephone networks were also very affected on Friday, but the situation “gradually improves as power is restored”announced Saturday morning Orange Caraïbe, the main mobile operator in Guadeloupe. Health establishments operate on their generators. As soon as the cut is noticed, “the maintenance teams have activated the generators on all the sites concerned”indicated the Guadeloupe Hospital Center (CHUG) in a press release.