The Electric Union of Cuba (UNE) has begun September unable to halt the collapse of the national electrical system (SEN), which is why power outages in the country are once again massive, surpassing 800 megawatts (MW) this Tuesday.
"It is estimated that during peak hours there will be an availability of 2,453 MW and a maximum demand of 3,240 MW, resulting in a deficit of 787 MW. Therefore, if the expected conditions are maintained, an impact of 857 MW during this time is forecasted," reported UNE on its social media.
The day before, the service was affected 24 hours a day, and the disruption has continued throughout the early morning today, UNE told its customers, assuring that "the maximum disruption was 749 MW at 8:30 PM, which did not coincide with peak hours."
The state-owned company argues that the generation capacity deficit is due to unit breakdowns and insufficient fuel availability. This Tuesday, the unit 5 of the Rente thermoelectric power plant (CTE), the unit 1 of the Santa Cruz CTE, and the unit 2 of the Felton CTE remain out of service.
It seems that the malfunction reported this Monday in unit 8 of the CTE Mariel has been resolved, but the deficit remains high at over 800 MW.
"The limitations in thermal generation are 562 MW. There are 46 distributed generation plants out of service due to fuel, totaling 287 MW affected by this issue," UNE stated this Tuesday.
After admitting that the strategy of Miguel Díaz-Canel's government to minimize blackouts during the summer failed, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, promised that the situation would slightly improve with the arrival of months with milder temperatures. However, September has begun with massive blackouts.
Neither the beginning of the school year nor the growing discontent of Cubans - who have taken to the streets to express it - have managed to make the Cuban regime prioritize energy generation.
The minister's promise that, thanks to investment in renewable energies, by 2025 the government will manage to generate one minute of electricity without relying on imported fuel, has not impressed Cubans, who have only seen mockery or absurdity in his words.
"Brothers, calm down, the competent authorities have just sent four ships to Antarctica with the mission of bringing four icebergs to speed up winter in Cuba and meet the ever-increasing demands of the people. Patience, it's just a matter of waiting," a user bitterly joked this Tuesday in the comments on UNE's post.
"One question: Which power plant supplies electricity to the Cuban leadership and their families? Because it never seems to go out of service due to lack of fuel. If in the end, according to the constitution they created, all Cubans have the same rights as Raúl and his family, the generals, Canel, Marrero, and all the others... then they should be entitled to at least 24 hours of blackouts," said another.
"We have to keep enduring the distortions of the decision-makers. Many hotels in exchange for little electricity. How long will this last?" one person asked. "Days go by... and instead of getting better... everything gets worse. How far are they going to take us?" another internet user inquired.
"It is impossible to think that they cannot improve this deplorable situation. There is already a guaranteed deficit of over 700 and 800 MW every day. We really can't take it anymore... too much sustained pressure over time," another Cuban frustrated with the blackouts exploded.
"The country of eternal darkness. But the worst part is that the rulers do nothing to improve the situation. They are in power to live well, all of them and their families," concluded a Facebook user weary of the deception of the so-called "continuity" government.
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