Cuba's Electric Union (UNE) reports that the energy crisis in the country is deepening, with blackouts exceeding 1,500 MW, a situation that severely impacts the daily lives of citizens.
According to the official report issued for this Tuesday, April 1, the highest outage recorded on Monday was 1,536 MW at 7:50 PM, coinciding with the peak demand hour.
The UNE explained that this disruption was greater than planned due to the unexpected departure of the Rente 6 unit and a demand higher than expected.
During the early hours of today, the service continued to be affected without interruptions.
At 7:00 am, the availability of the National Electric System (SEN) was 1,870 MW, while the demand reached 2,700 MW, resulting in a deficit of 935 MW for the morning. The impact is expected to reach 1,150 MW by mid-morning.
Several power generation plants are experiencing issues.
Unit 6 of the Mariel thermal power plant and Unit 2 of Felton are out of service. Additionally, five blocks from the Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Renté thermal power plants are undergoing maintenance.
Additionally, limitations in thermal generation affecting a total of 311 MW have been reported.
The situation is exacerbated by the lack of fuel, which has taken 74 distributed generation plants out of service, resulting in an impact of 447 MW.
For the evening peak hours, the UNE forecasts an availability of 1,870 MW compared to a maximum demand of 3,380 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,510 MW. If these conditions persist, the estimated impact will reach 1,580 MW.
Despite the integration of energy from eight new photovoltaic solar parks with a total production of 873 MWh, the lack of stable generation and ongoing breakdowns continue to impact the electrical supply across the country.
Scheduled blackouts in Havana
A statement issued by the Electric Company of Havana reported that, due to a generation deficit in the National Electric System (SEN), it will be necessary to affect several blocks of customers in the capital this Tuesday
Block #3: Expected disruptions between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.
Block #4: Expected disruptions between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
Block #2: Anticipated disruptions between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
Block #1: Expected disruptions between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM.
These scheduled interruptions reflect the severity of the energy crisis in the country and the inability to ensure a stable electricity supply to the population, even in the capital.
The energy crisis in Cuba seems far from being resolved, as the population faces increasingly frequent and prolonged blackouts that complicate their daily lives and access to basic services.
Frequently asked questions about the energy crisis in Cuba
What is the magnitude of the current electricity deficit in Cuba?
The energy crisis in Cuba has resulted in an electricity generation deficit exceeding 1,500 MW, severely impacting the daily lives of citizens due to prolonged and frequent blackouts.
What factors contribute to the severe energy deficit on the island?
The energy deficit in Cuba is primarily due to breakdowns in several thermal power units, scheduled maintenance, and a chronic fuel shortage that affects numerous distributed generation plants.
How do blackouts affect the daily lives of Cubans?
Frequent and prolonged blackouts in Cuba complicate access to basic services, hinder food preparation, the use of appliances, and food preservation, creating a climate of despair and uncertainty among the population.
What measures has the Cuban government taken to alleviate the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has attempted to alleviate the energy crisis with scheduled power outages and prioritizing electricity supply to essential services such as hospitals. However, these measures have not been sufficient to resolve the country's critical situation.
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