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Cuba's Electric Union (UNE) announced blackouts for this Sunday due to a deficit that is slightly lower than in recent days, although it is not the lowest figure of the week.
After a Saturday when the impact due to generation deficit reached 1476 MW—where the forecast had been 1490 MW—it is estimated that the impact during peak hours today will be 1203 MW, a decrease of 273 MW.
The day before, the service was down from 5:10 am until 11:20 pm, but it started to be affected again at 6:18 am this morning due to high transfers to the central-eastern area. Less than an hour later, at 7:23 am, it began to be impacted by a shortfall.
According to the report from UNE, at 7:00 AM, there were 330 MW affected due to a generation deficit. By noon, it is estimated that the impact will reach 700 MW, with a greater incidence in the central-eastern region due to high energy transfers to that area.
Three units from the Felton and Renté thermoelectric plants are out of service. Additionally, five more blocks from the Mariel, Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Renté power plants remain under maintenance.
Additionally, 86 distributed generation plants are out of service due to a lack of fuel, the CDE Mariel is also offline, and unit 1 of the Felton thermoelectric plant is operating at limited capacity to ensure alignment with its next supply. In total, 703 MW are affected for this reason, which is more than the 692 MW from Saturday.
Last year, the Electric Union did not announce blackouts on Christmas Eve, but this December it seems that luck will not be the same.
In 2024, as Christmas approaches—a date traditionally celebrated with parties or family gatherings—many Cubans fear they will spend the holiday in darkness, following a week of increasing blackouts.
On Friday, following the celebration of the so-called March of the Fighting People called by Díaz-Canel and organized by the regime as a propaganda act, the National Electric System (SEN) experienced severe disruptions that reached a generation deficit of 1,619 MW at its peak.
Frequently Asked Questions about Blackouts in Cuba and the Electricity Shortage in December 2024
What is the main cause of blackouts in Cuba during December 2024?
The main cause of power outages in Cuba is a significant shortfall in electricity generation capacity. This shortfall is due to multiple breakdowns in thermoelectric plants and a lack of fuel for distributed generation facilities, which prevents the country from meeting its electricity demand.
What is the current electricity generation deficit in Cuba?
The electricity generation deficit in Cuba is significant, surpassing 1,200 MW in recent days, according to reports by the Electric Union (UNE). This deficit indicates a growing energy crisis, exacerbated by a lack of fuel and ongoing breakdowns in generating units.
¿Cómo afectan los apagones la vida diaria de los cubanos?
Power outages severely impact the daily lives of Cubans, disrupting essential activities such as cooking and the use of appliances. The population is increasingly experiencing discontent and frustration due to the frequency and duration of these electricity cuts, negatively affecting the economy and overall well-being.
What measures has the Cuban government taken to address the energy crisis?
So far, the measures taken by the Cuban government have been insufficient to resolve the energy crisis.Although efforts have been made to incorporate some thermoelectric units and restore affected areas, long-term solutions have not materialized, leading to protests and discontent among the population.
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