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The Cuban Electric Union reported that this Sunday, the complicated situation in the National Electric System (SEN) will continue, with scheduled outages due to a generation capacity deficit.
According to the report issued by the entity, electricity service was interrupted in several stages from midnight on Saturday until early today, between 00:00 and 2:20 am, as well as from 5:16 am to 12:00 pm, due to a capacity deficit.
Despite the service being temporarily restored at 3:14 AM on Sunday, new disruptions were reported starting at 6:18 AM due to issues with electricity generation.
The maximum impact on Saturday occurred at 6:50 PM, with a deficit of 1401 MW, a figure that did not coincide with the peak demand period and was lower than the forecast of 1469 MW inactive.
Today, at 7:00 AM, the availability of the SEN was 1840 MW, while the demand reached 1930 MW, leaving 90 MW offline. It is estimated that in the coming afternoon hours the impact could reach 850 MW, especially in the central-eastern region of the country.
The causes of the interruptions are related to several units being out of service.
Currently, unit 5 of the Nuevitas Power Generation Plant, as well as units 1 and 2 of the Felton Power Generation Plant, are out of operation. Additionally, there are five blocks under maintenance at the Mariel, Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Renté power plants.
The limitations in thermal generation reach 343 MW, and there are 43 distributed generation plants out of service due to lack of fuel, which represents 261 MW of unavailable capacity.
If current conditions persist, it is expected that at peak demand, system availability will be reduced to 1820 MW, while maximum demand could reach 3050 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1230 MW. Consequently, an impact of up to 1300 MW is anticipated during that time.
Frequently Asked Questions about Blackouts and the Energy Crisis in Cuba
Why are blackouts occurring in Cuba?
The blackouts in Cuba are mainly due to a significant deficit in electricity generation capacity. This issue is caused by breakdowns in thermal power plants, scheduled maintenance, and a critical lack of fuel for distributed generation plants. This situation makes it impossible to meet energy demand, resulting in frequent and prolonged electricity outages.
Which power plants are currently out of service in Cuba?
Currently, several thermal power plants in Cuba are out of service due to breakdowns, including unit 5 of the Nuevitas Thermoelectric Power Plant and units 1 and 2 of the Felton Thermoelectric Power Plant. Additionally, there are blocks under maintenance at the Mariel, Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Renté power plants, further reducing the country's generation capacity.
How is the energy crisis affecting the Cuban population?
The energy crisis in Cuba is severely impacting the daily lives of citizens, generating widespread frustration and annoyance due to the continuous blackouts. The lack of electricity negatively affects the quality of life, with wasted food and a growing sense of hopelessness, leading to protests and demonstrations in various regions of the country.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has attempted to implement measures such as scheduled blackouts and the partial incorporation of some thermoelectric units, but these actions have not been sufficient to resolve the energy crisis. The lack of fuel remains a critical barrier to an effective short-term solution, leading to dissatisfaction among the population.
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