The Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, acknowledged on Monday that this year, including the summer, power outages in Cuba could be reduced thanks to the addition of new solar parks, although he admitted that they will not be completely eliminated due to the complex situation of the national electric system.
In an extensive interview granted to the newspaper Granma, the official explained that 46 photovoltaic solar parks will be incorporated with an estimated capacity of up to 1,000 megawatts (MW), which could partially alleviate the generation deficit that exceeds 1,500 MW during peak hours.
Nonetheless, he emphasized that this progress should not be interpreted as a definitive solution, which is clear to the average Cuban who constantly suffers from power outages at any hour.
De la O Levy justified this situation by stating that the Cuban electrical system faces several limiting factors: prolonged deterioration of thermal power plants, lack of spare parts, a reduction in maintenance investment, and a sustained decline in national crude oil production.
Moreover, it was noted that electricity generation consumes more than 50% of the available fuel in the country.
The minister also acknowledged that many oil wells were closed in previous years due to a lack of resources to keep them operational, which further limited generation capacity.
This is compounded by the precarious state of the national crude oil transportation infrastructure, which largely relies on road transport due to a lack of pipelines.
Due to the inability to import enough fuel, the government chose to promote the use of renewable energy sources such as solar parks, with installations underway in all provinces.
The first containers of energy storage systems are also arriving in Cuba, which will allow for stabilization of the service when there is no sun or during adverse weather events, although it did not specify when these would be installed.
Although the minister emphasized that this investment program is viable and is under development, he admitted that the benefits will be partial and that power outages will continue until the underlying structural issues are resolved.
Although the minister emphasized that this investment program is viable and is under development, he acknowledged that the benefits will be partial and that power outages will continue, due to the prolonged neglect of maintenance in the electrical system, accumulated over several years, and whose consequences cannot be reversed in the short term.
In 2024, the regime promised a reduction in blackouts during the summer; however, the reality was different, and the failure to meet that expectation generated a wave of criticism towards the government.
Cuba currently produces only one-third of the crude oil it consumes, averaging 40,000 barrels per day, which intensifies the country's dependence on imports to sustain its electric system, according to the agency EFE.
In 2024, national production has decreased by 138,000 tons, a situation that the Ministry of Energy and Mines attributes to a lack of funding and material resources.
Meanwhile, the Cuban government, with support from China, is advancing a plan to install 100 solar parks by the year 2031, with a total projected capacity of 2,000 megawatts.
The first of these parks was activated on February 21st on the outskirts of Havana, as part of the strategy to move towards greater energy independence based on renewable sources.
Power outages continue to have a severe impact on the daily lives of Cubans and on the national economy, which contracted by 1.9% in 2023 and did not register growth in the following year, according to data from the government itself. In several provinces across the country, power cuts can exceed 20 hours daily, causing productive interruptions and exacerbating social discontent.
In fact, experts believe that power outages have been one of the main triggers for the most significant anti-government protests in recent years, including those on July 11, 2021, those in July and August 2022 in Havana and Nuevitas, and the most recent ones on March 17, 2024, in Santiago de Cuba and other locations in the eastern part of the country.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Electrical Crisis and Renewable Energy Efforts in Cuba
What does the Cuban government promise to improve the electricity service?
The Cuban government promises to reduce blackouts by incorporating 46 solar photovoltaic parks with a capacity of up to 1,000 megawatts (MW) by 2025. However, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, admitted that blackouts will not be completely eliminated due to ongoing structural issues in the national electrical system.
What are the main challenges of the electrical system in Cuba?
The main difficulties of the electric system in Cuba include the deterioration of thermoelectric plants, the lack of spare parts, and the reduction of investments in maintenance. Additionally, there is a decline in national crude oil production, which increases dependency on imports. These structural difficulties are the primary obstacle to improving the national electricity service.
How does solar energy generation influence the Cuban energy crisis?
The generation of solar energy is an effort by the Cuban government to alleviate the energy deficit, but it faces limitations due to the lack of batteries to store the generated electricity. This means that solar energy can only be used in real-time, failing to meet nighttime demand. Without a comprehensive plan and modernization of the system, the actual impact of these installations will be limited.
What role does China play in the development of renewable energy in Cuba?
China has donated equipment for the installation of solar parks in Cuba, as part of a joint project aimed at adding 120 MW to the national electricity system. This collaboration is intended to reduce fossil fuel consumption and mitigate power outages, although structural and management challenges continue to limit the positive impact of these investments.
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