Cuba continues to face a severe energy crisis with power outages lasting 24 hours, and significant disruptions due to generation deficits are anticipated for this Saturday.
The country is facing another grim day in its electrical system, with over 1,100 MW of outages expected during peak hours, suggesting a weekend spent largely in the dark.
The National Electric Union (UNE) reported continuous blackouts throughout Friday that extended into the early hours of Saturday, with a peak impact of 1,683 megawatts (MW) recorded at 7:50 pm, which even exceeded the official forecast due to a demand higher than predicted.
The situation is not improving this Saturday. According to the report issued by the UNE, at 7:00 AM the country had a capacity of only 1,720 MW, against a demand of 2,710 MW, which already created a deficit of 1,025 MW from the early hours of the day.
For the midday schedule, it is estimated that the impact will reach 1,180 MW, and for the evening, a demand of 3,400 MW is anticipated with a supply that would barely reach 2,053 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,347 MW.
Consequently, the UNE anticipates that the impact could reach 1,417 MW during that time, if the current technical and supply conditions remain unchanged.
A critical combination of breakdowns, maintenance, and fuel shortages
The energy collapse has multiple simultaneous causes.
A malfunction has rendered Unit 2 of the Felton thermoelectric power plant (CTE) out of service, while three other units from the CTE Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Renté are halted for maintenance.
This is compounded by thermal limitations that keep an additional 488 MW unavailable due to unspecified technical reasons.
Another determining factor appears to be the severe shortage of fuel, which affects a significant portion of the country's distributed generation.
A total of 963 MW are out of service due to a lack of fuel, distributed as follows:
78 distributed generation plants (577 MW)
Central fuel de Mariel (133 MW)
Moa Central Fuel (149 MW)
Patana de Melones (104 MW)
Despite the planned addition of some units during the nighttime peak—such as the 104 MW from the Melones plant and the 149 MW from the Moa fuel power plant—the improvement is insufficient to meet the demand, which will make widespread blackouts unavoidable.
Solar energy: a modest contribution in the face of a structural crisis
One of the few positive points from the UNE report was the generation contributed by the new photovoltaic solar parks, which reached 1,103 megawatt-hours (MWh) on Friday. This figure remains quite limited in comparison to the structural needs of the country.
Reactions and consequences
The persistence of prolonged power outages is causing significant social unrest throughout the country.
On social media, citizens are reporting outages of up to 20 hours in regions of eastern Cuba and the central part of the country, affecting the operation of hospitals, educational centers, bakeries, water supply networks, and refrigeration systems for food and medications.
In sectors such as trade, hospitality, and transportation, power outages are causing considerable economic losses, and in some cases, have led to spontaneous protests in peripheral neighborhoods.
Local analysts warn that the combination of chronic breakdowns in thermoelectric power plants, dependence on imported fuel, and the deterioration of the national electrical infrastructure poses an increasing risk to the social stability of the country, especially with the arrival of the summer months when extreme temperatures drive up consumption.
Meanwhile, the UNE continues to appeal for citizens' patience and for the "rational use" of electricity, amid what many already consider a structural energy crisis with no visible short-term solution.
Frequently asked questions about the energy crisis in Cuba
Why are there blackouts in Cuba?
Blackouts in Cuba are due to a significant shortage in electricity generation capacity, caused by failures in thermal power plants and a severe fuel shortage. Additionally, the maintenance of several units and thermal limitations contribute to the inability to meet the growing demand for electricity in the country.
What is the impact of the fuel shortage on the energy crisis in Cuba?
The lack of fuel has left many distributed generation plants inoperable in Cuba, exacerbating the electricity generation deficit. This situation is a key factor contributing to prolonged blackouts across the country, as it severely limits the responsiveness of the National Electric System (SEN).
How is the energy crisis affecting the Cuban population?
The energy crisis in Cuba severely impacts the daily lives of citizens, causing social unrest due to the ongoing blackouts. These power outages disrupt essential services such as hospitals and refrigeration systems, as well as negatively affecting the economy by impacting businesses and trade.
What measures has the Cuban government taken in response to the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has tried to mitigate the energy crisis by implementing scheduled blackouts and conducting maintenance on power plants. However, these measures have been insufficient, and the lack of fuel remains a significant obstacle to an effective short-term solution.
Filed under: