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The Electric Union of Cuba reported this Thursday that the national electrical system is facing an aggravated energy crisis, with a projected impact of up to 1,771 megawatts (MW) during peak hours. This figure represents one of the highest deficits of the year and has led to prolonged blackouts in several areas of the country, including sustained outages in Havana.
According to the state-owned company, a maximum impact of 1,575 MW was recorded on Wednesday at 7:50 p.m., and the service remained affected throughout the night. By 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, availability was at 1,790 MW against a demand of 2,900 MW, resulting in a real impact of 1,070 MW. By noon, a deficit of 1,150 MW is projected, and during peak hours, the forecast suggests an availability of 1,799 MW with a demand of 3,500 MW, which would create a deficit of 1,701 MW and an impact of 1,771 MW.
Among the factors worsening the situation are the multiple breakdowns in key units of the system. Unit 3 of the Santa Cruz Thermoelectric Plant (CTE), Units 3 and 6 of the Renté CTE, and Unit 2 of the Felton CTE are currently out of service due to malfunctions. Additionally, there are scheduled maintenance activities on Unit 2 of the Santa Cruz CTE, Unit 4 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes CTE in Cienfuegos, and, since Thursday morning, Unit 3 of the same plant, which will be out of service for 36 hours.
In addition, the system faces thermal limitations affecting 432 MW, as well as issues related to the supply of fuel and lubricants that have left 45 distributed generation plants out of operation, resulting in a loss of 202 MW, along with the Patana de Regla, which accounts for 49 MW. Due to a lack of lubricants, another 453 MW remain unavailable, increasing the total affected by these types of problems to 704 MW.
In Havana, the local Electric Company reported interruptions from 2:19 p.m. to 10:29 p.m. on Wednesday. Although some blocks were not disconnected despite being scheduled for outages, the impact was significant. For this Thursday, September 5, and the early morning of Friday, September 6, rolling blackouts are anticipated by zones, with time slots starting at 10:00 a.m. and extending until 10:00 a.m. the following day, depending on the demands of the national electrical system.
The UNE reiterated that the recovery of service depends on the stability of the generating units and the availability of energy resources, factors that, in the current context, remain limited.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Electric Deficit in Cuba
What is the current electricity deficit in Cuba?
The electrical deficit in Cuba exceeds 1,700 MW, resulting in prolonged blackouts in various areas, including the capital, Havana.
What factors are contributing to the energy crisis in Cuba?
The energy crisis in Cuba is exacerbated by multiple breakdowns in key units of the electrical system, scheduled maintenance, thermal limitations, and supply issues with fuel and lubricants that have left several generation plants inoperative.
How are the blackouts affecting the Cuban population?
Blackouts are significantly affecting the quality of life for Cubans, with interruptions in the electricity supply impacting both domestic environments and productive sectors, hospitals, and other essential services.
What is the Cuban government doing to address the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has attempted to alleviate the situation with planned maintenance and the use of alternative energies, but these measures have proven inadequate to address the structural deficit of the country's energy system.
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