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As December progresses, Cubans remain mired in darkness with little hope for improvements in the electrical situation.
This Thursday, the Electric Union (UNE) announced blackouts due to a generation capacity deficit exceeding 1,700 MW, a figure that is alarmingly close to the highest reported this year: 1,750 MW on June 5.
According to the report shared on Facebook, the service was affected the previous day starting at 5:06 AM and remained so throughout the early hours of Thursday. The most significant impact was 1,538 MW at 6:10 PM, which coincided with peak demand time.
As of today, at 7:00 AM, there were 766 MW affected due to generation shortages. By noon, a deficit of 1150 MW is anticipated, and during peak hours, it is expected to reach 1711 MW.
One unit of the Felton thermoelectric plant and another from Renté are out of service. On Wednesday, there was another unit from the Felton that was also down for this reason, but it is expected to be back online by peak hours.
Six other blocks from the CTE Mariel, Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, Nuevitas, and Renté are still undergoing maintenance.
Additionally, 69 distributed generation plants are out of service due to a lack of fuel, along with 11 engines at the Melones and Regla facilities, totaling 638 MW affected by this issue. The previous day, this figure was 558 MW.
The limitations in thermal generation are 242 MW.
For its part, the Electric Company of Havana announced that due to a generation deficit in the National Electric System (SEN), it is necessary to temporarily suspend service for emergency purposes in periods of four to five hours.
Customers in blocks 3 and 4 will have their power cut off between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
In the afternoon, Block 1 will be affected from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Then, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Block 2 will be affected.
Frequently Asked Questions about Blackouts in Cuba
Why are there blackouts in Cuba?
Power outages in Cuba are primarily caused by a significant deficit in electricity generation capacity. This deficit results from multiple breakdowns in thermal power plants and a lack of fuel for distributed generation facilities, which prevents the country from meeting its electricity demand.
What is the magnitude of the electricity deficit in Cuba?
The magnitude of the electricity deficit in Cuba is significant. Today, a deficit exceeding 1,700 MW is expected during peak hours, prompting the Electric Union to announce power outages across the country. This deficit is related to the non-operation of several generating units and the lack of fuel at distributed power plants.
How do power outages affect daily life in Cuba?
Power outages severely impact the daily lives of Cubans, interrupting essential activities such as cooking and using household appliances. The population is experiencing growing discontent and frustration due to the frequency and duration of these electricity cuts, which negatively affect the economy and overall well-being.
What measures has the Cuban government taken to address the energy crisis?
So far, the measures taken by the Cuban government have been inadequate to resolve the energy crisis. Although they have attempted to incorporate some thermoelectric units and restore affected areas, long-term solutions have not materialized, leading to protests and discontent among the population.
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