On Saturday, electricity restoration efforts in Guadeloupe progressed slowly, with 68% of households restored following a significant blackout triggered by a labor dispute at the EDF-PEI Jarry power plant. The blackout, which began Friday, prompted emergency measures in healthcare and triggered looting amidst a curfew. EDF has filed a complaint over the shutdown actions, while local authorities and business representatives have criticized the situation, emphasizing its impact on public health and the economy.
Electricity restoration efforts in Guadeloupe progressed “slowly” on Saturday, with 68% of residents having their power restored after more than 24 hours of widespread “blackout” across the region. EDF expressed hopes for a return to normal conditions “over the weekend.”
By 11:00 local time (17:00 in Paris), power had been reinstated for “155,500 customers,” representing 68% of those impacted, as reported by the energy provider.
EDF noted that restoring electricity is being conducted “very gradually to maintain the stability of the power grid.” They also urged consumers to practice “energy sobriety” to avoid overloading the system during this delicate restoration phase.
The prefecture of Guadeloupe stated that “normalcy is anticipated to return (over the weekend).”
Guadeloupe was plunged into a widespread blackout at 08:30 local time on Friday, “following the illegal shutdown” of engines at the EDF-PEI Jarry power plant, which is responsible for supplying the majority of electricity to the archipelago, home to nearly 380,000 residents.
EDF’s Legal Action
On Friday, EDF, through its subsidiary EDF-PEI, lodged a complaint against an unknown party for “endangering others” at the Pointe-à-Pitre police station. Despite a “general curfew” implemented in the area, incidents of looting and vandalism occurred, particularly in Pointe-à-Pitre, where eleven businesses, including a supermarket, a bank, and three jewelry stores, were targeted. Deputy Public Prosecutor Alexandra Onfray reported that some stores were attacked with heavy equipment, and that police faced gunfire during the unrest. Two arrests were made in connection with these events.
This disruption follows an ongoing labor dispute between the CGT energy union and EDF Production Électrique Insulaire (PEI), with the prefect claiming that “striking employees” at the Jarry plant were responsible for the chaos after “breaking into the control room” and forcibly “shutting down all motors.” The gendarmes were called in to “secure the control room,” and subsequently, essential personnel were requisitioned to restore operations at the power plant.
The blackout raised concerns regarding water distribution, hospital services, and care for home-based patients. However, the CHU de Guadeloupe managed to maintain operations thanks to its generators, although they reported treating “three families” for carbon monoxide poisoning incidents, including a 10-month-old infant admitted to intensive care. The hospital issued warnings about the dangers of using generators, especially in enclosed spaces.
Impact and Reactions
By Saturday morning, the critical issues affecting the cell phone network “were beginning to improve as power restoration continued,” according to Orange Caraïbe, the primary mobile service provider in Guadeloupe.
As the situation unfolded, numerous reactions emerged from the local community. The Union des Entreprises de Guadeloupe condemned the “criminal act”, stressing that “the smallest businesses would bear the brunt of stock and equipment losses.” Regional president Ary Chalus criticized the “irresponsibility of actions that seriously threatened the health of Guadeloupeans and the economy,” while also lamenting the circumstances that led to such a crisis. The Guadeloupe PS federation highlighted the “deteriorating social dialogue” and called for an “urgent return to reason.”
Strikers at the power plant claimed they initiated the shutdown “after management called one of our leaders, possibly to discuss dismissal.” Fortunately, by Saturday morning, “seven out of the 12 motors at the Jarry power plant had been restarted” following repairs to one of the emergency units specifically designed to reboot the electrical system, as reported by EDF Archipel Guadeloupe.
The ongoing strike, which commenced on September 15, revolves around the implementation of an agreement established earlier in 2023. This agreement emerged after two months of protests seeking alignment of contracts and compensation with labor laws, but it has resulted in power outages affecting about 100,000 homes. Following recent events, management at EDF-PEI proposed an agreement that the CGT-Guadeloupe energy federation rejected over disputes regarding paid leave calculations.