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The Electric Union (UNE) has announced a critical outlook for electricity supply this Tuesday, with a generation deficit indicating a dark Christmas Eve for millions of Cubans, as the forecast for blackouts during peak hours today is 1,314 MW.
Yesterday, the electrical service was impacted by a deficit in generation capacity from 5:19 a.m. It reached a peak of 1,432 MW at 6:30 p.m., coinciding with the time of highest demand.
Although the outages were resolved at 1:22 AM, the blackouts returned just three hours later at 4:13 AM.
At 7:00 a.m. today, the availability of the National Electric System (SEN) was 1,480 MW, compared to a demand of 2,150 MW, resulting in a deficit of 742 MW.
It is estimated that around noon the deficit will reach 980 MW, with a greater impact on the central-eastern regions due to the high energy transfer to these areas.
There are four malfunctioning thermoelectric units: unit 8 of the Mariel Thermoelectric Power Plant, unit 2 of the Felton Thermoelectric Power Plant, and units 3 and 6 of the Renté Thermoelectric Power Plant.
Additionally, five units remain under maintenance: Units 2 and 3 of the Santa Cruz Power Plant, Units 3 and 4 of the Cienfuegos Power Plant, and Unit 5 of the Renté Power Plant.
Thermal limitations affect an additional 209 MW, while in distributed generation, 79 plants are out of service due to lack of fuel, representing 519 MW.
Additionally, there are six engines from the Melones truck and seven from CDE Moa, which together account for another 196 MW affected.
The UNE plans to bring some units into operation to alleviate the impact during peak hours: unit 3 of the Santa Cruz power station will contribute 50 MW, while six engines from the Mariel generation plant and other units from the Melones truck will add 110 MW and 96 MW, respectively.
However, these measures will not be enough.
The estimated availability for the night will be 1,736 MW, compared to a maximum demand of 2,980 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,244 MW.
This could result in blackouts of up to 1,314 MW, significantly affecting the population during the Christmas Eve celebrations.
Cubans have quickly expressed their bitterness and frustration following the announcement, adding to the sense of hopelessness amid widespread discontent.
"Cuba is the little Christmas tree of the world: with the lights out here and on there, we are the most miserable on a global scale." "Not even on a day like today can we celebrate with these blackouts. It should be embarrassing in front of the world, being the only country that cannot celebrate this special day." "I find it disrespectful that today we have to celebrate in the dark due to their complete ineptitude and lack of foresight," wrote some outraged Cubans.
"Let's enjoy Santa Claus's gift!" another internet user declared ironically.
The Cuban regime's inability to ensure an adequate electricity supply on such a significant date as Christmas Eve and Christmas clearly showcases its chronic ineffectiveness and lack of foresight once again.
While millions of families around the world enjoy a night illuminated by traditions and the joy of celebration, in Cuba, darkness has become a bitter symbol of a failed management that cannot even guarantee the minimum conditions for its citizens to share special moments.
This crisis is not the result of isolated circumstances, but rather of decades of improvisation, structural decline, and indifference towards the real needs of the people.
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