Lack of fuel and demand higher than expected lead to over 700 MW of blackouts on Monday in Cuba.

The fuel shortage in Cuba, combined with a demand higher than anticipated, resulted in blackouts on Monday amounting to a deficit of 708 MW, nearly double the initial estimate of 390 MW.

According to a report from the Unión Eléctrica (UNE) on Tuesday, service was disrupted on Monday from 9:09 AM and continued during the early hours of today.

The maximum impact was 708 MW at 9:00 PM, coinciding with peak hour, "greater than planned due to demand exceeding the forecast, the non-entry of the truck from Santiago de Cuba, and a lack of fuel in the truck from Mariel and in the fuel plant in Mariel," detailed the UNE on Facebook.

This Tuesday, the availability of the national electric system (SEN) at 7:00 am was 2380 MW and the demand was 2420 MW, with 91 MW affected by a generation capacity deficit. By noon, the forecast had risen to 300 MW.

During peak hours, a availability of 2588 MW and a maximum demand of 3100 MW are estimated, resulting in a deficit of 512 MW, with an impact of 582 MW. If the trend of the last few hours continues, it is most likely that this figure will increase.

Currently, three units of the Santa Cruz, Rente, and Felton thermoelectric plants are out of service due to breakdowns, and another block of the CTE Santa Cruz is under maintenance.

The limitations in thermal generation are 460 MW, and 45 distributed generation plants are non-operational due to a lack of fuel, which represents 315 MW affected.