Cuba's Electric Union (UNE) forecasted another day of severe blackouts for this Wednesday. The tragedy continues.
Yesterday, the National Electric System (SEN) experienced capacity deficiencies throughout the 24 hours, extending into the early hours of today.
The highest recorded impact was 1,709 MW at 7:10 p.m., coinciding with the peak demand.
This value exceeded the planned amount due to the failure to bring Unit 3 of the Santa Cruz CTE into operation, as noted by the UNE in its daily report.
At 7:00 a.m. today, the availability of the National Electric System (SEN) was 1,455 MW, while the demand reached 2,360 MW, resulting in a deficit of 943 MW.
It is estimated that during midday, the impact will increase to 1,300 MW, with a greater effect in the central-eastern region of the country.
Currently, a total of eight thermoelectric units are out of service, according to the UNE.
Four units are out of service due to a malfunction: unit 3 of the Santa Cruz Power Plant, unit 5 of the Diez de Octubre Power Plant, and units 1 and 2 of the Felton Power Plant.
Five others are under maintenance: unit 2 of the Santa Cruz power plant, units 3 and 4 of the Cienfuegos power plant, and unit 5 of the Renté power plant.
However, in his daily appearance - increasingly brief and elusive - engineer Lázaro Guerra Hernández, director of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM), only referred to the breakdown of Unit 5 in Nuevitas (which the UNE report did not mention) and instead omitted the others that are out of service.
In total, there are nine damaged units, not eight.
Guerra Hernández did refer to the likely return during the day of Unit 3 of the CTE in Santa Cruz.
Far from the reasonably incisive tone brought by journalist Bernardo Espinosa—who at least asked questions—Lázaro Guerra now focuses on summarizing the tragedy of an entire country in just a couple of minutes on national television.
Other energy limitations for the day
Additionally, there are limitations in thermal generation that affect 325 MW.
Due to a lack of fuel, 72 distributed generation plants remain out of service, a very high number representing a loss of 468 MW.
Additionally, the Moa fuel plant is inactive, resulting in a loss of 117 MW, which brings the total affected by this issue to 585 MW.
For peak hours, a recovery of 80 MW is anticipated from distributed generation motors that are currently out of service due to lack of fuel, as well as the entry of unit 3 of the CTE Santa Cruz with 55 MW.
With this forecast, a availability of 1,590 MW and a maximum demand of 3,200 MW is estimated, resulting in a deficit of 1,610 MW.
If these conditions persist, the expected impact will be 1,680 MW, with greater effect in the central-eastern area.
Blackouts in Havana
The Electric Company of the capital has informed its users that, due to a generation deficit in the National Electric System, scheduled outages will take place today in Havana according to the following plan:
-From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., blocks #1 and #2 will be affected.
-From that time, block # 3 will be rotated and will be affected until 5:00 p.m.
-Then, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., block #4 will be affected.
Frequently Asked Questions about Power Outages in Cuba
Why are there constant blackouts in Cuba?
The blackouts in Cuba are due to a deficit in electricity generation capacity, caused by multiple failures in thermoelectric units and a lack of fuel for distributed generation plants. The situation is worsened by the lack of investment in the maintenance and modernization of the national electrical system.
What is the current situation of the electrical system in Cuba?
The situation of the electrical system in Cuba is critical, with outages exceeding 1,600 MW during peak hours. The demand for electricity significantly exceeds the available generation capacity, resulting in prolonged blackouts that impact a large portion of the population, especially in the central-eastern area of the country.
What impact do power outages have on the daily lives of Cubans?
Blackouts seriously affect the daily life of Cubans. They hinder basic activities such as cooking and the use of appliances, in addition to generating frustration and growing discontent due to their frequency and duration. This situation impacts the quality of life and causes widespread discomfort among the population.
What measures has the Cuban government taken in response to this crisis?
Until now, the government's measures have been insufficient to address the energy crisis. Effective long-term solutions have not been implemented, and promises of improvement have not materialized, leading to protests and discontent among the population. Temporary solutions, such as the rental of floating power plants, have not managed to resolve the structural problem.
What are the projections for electricity supply in Cuba?
The projections indicate that blackouts will continue due to the system's inability to meet demand. Although some reintegrations of thermoelectric units are expected, a short-term solution to stabilize the electrical situation is not anticipated, which continues to generate uncertainty and discontent among the population.
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