Blackouts show no respite in Cuba in the middle of August.

The energy situation in Cuba remains critical in the middle of August, with blackouts affecting a large part of the country.

According to official data provided by the Unión Eléctrica de Cuba (UNE), the National Electric Service (SEN) experienced significant interruptions on August 8, 2024, due to a generation capacity deficit.

The service was affected from 08:36 in the morning until 03:49 in the early morning of August 9th. The maximum impact was 621 MW, reached at 21:50, although this figure did not coincide with the peak hour of electrical consumption.

The outlook for this Friday is more complicated because several units of the thermoelectric power plants (CTE) are out of service due to breakdowns: unit 4 of the CTE Cienfuegos, unit 2 of the CTE Felton, unit 5 of the CTE Renté, unit 5 of the CTE Nuevitas, and unit 2 of the CTE Santa Cruz.

These breakdowns, combined with the limitations in thermal generation, which amount to 348 MW, exacerbate the energy crisis.

In addition, the lack of fuel has taken 49 distributed generation plants out of service, which represents an additional loss of 290 MW.

During peak hours, a capacity of 2387 MW is estimated against a maximum demand of 3100 MW, resulting in a deficit of 713 MW.

If these conditions persist, a shortage of 783 MW is forecasted during peak consumption hours, which suggests a difficult night for the Cuban population.

The power outages, which have become routine, affect not only the quality of life of Cubans but also the economy of the country, already hit by other structural problems.

The situation, which does not seem to have a short-term solution, keeps the population on edge, facing yet another day of heat and darkness in the middle of summer.