Cuba faces a critical day this Wednesday, April 30, in terms of energy, with widespread blackouts across the country due to a generation deficit exceeding 1,500 megawatts (MW), a figure that reflects the severity of the crisis in the national electrical system.
According to the latest report issued by Unión Eléctrica (UNE), the service disruption lasted for 24 hours on Tuesday and continued without interruption throughout the early hours of today.
The maximum peak of outages reported was 1,639 MW, recorded at 8:50 PM, a time that didn't even coincide with the moment of highest demand, highlighting the severity of the operational collapse.
At 7:00 AM this Wednesday, the available generation capacity in the National Electric System (SEN) was only 1,870 MW, compared to a demand that had already reached 2,880 MW. This resulted in an immediate deficit of 1,141 MW, a gap that increased to 1,200 MW by noon.
The causes of the collapse are multiple.
At the moment, several units of the main thermoelectric power plants in the country are out of service, either due to breakdowns or scheduled maintenance.
The plants that are out of operation due to technical failures are unit 8 of the Mariel thermoelectric plant, unit 6 of Renté, and unit 2 of Felton.
Due to maintenance, units 2 of the Santa Cruz del Norte Power Plant, and units 3 and 4 of the Cienfuegos Power Plant, as well as another unit in Renté, are inactive.
This is compounded by the serious limitations in thermal generation, which amount to a total loss of 368 MW.
Additionally, there are 84 distributed generation plants out of service due to a lack of fuel, which adds a deficit of another 644 MW.
Although the commissioning of unit 8 at Mariel is expected with a generating capacity of 70 MW during peak hours, the forecasts remain discouraging.
The UNE estimates a total availability of 1,940 MW to meet a maximum demand that is expected to reach 3,400 MW. This would imply a deficit of 1,460 MW and an estimated impact of up to 1,530 MW during peak electricity consumption hours.
Scheduled blackouts in Havana
The Electric Company of Havana announced staggered power outages by time blocks and areas.
According to the official schedule, the power outages in the capital will be as follows:
Block #1: from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Block #3: from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Block #4: from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Block #2: from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Block #5: from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Solar energy: a marginal help
Amid this situation, the eight new photovoltaic solar parks contributed a total of 1,036 MWh to the system on Tuesday, a volume still insufficient in light of the enormous structural deficit that the SEN faces.
A crisis with no relief in sight
The lack of investment in infrastructure, the chronic fuel shortage, the dependence on outdated technologies, and the weak response capacity to failures have turned the energy crisis into one of the most persistent and concerning problems for Cubans.
The impacts not only limit quality of life but also severely affect productive sectors, hospitals, schools, and businesses.
As the authorities do not provide a clear outlook for recovery, the population knows that they will continue to face prolonged power outages in the coming days.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy Crisis in Cuba
What is the current electricity generation deficit in Cuba?
The current deficit in electrical generation in Cuba exceeds 1,500 MW, even reaching 1,639 MW during critical times of the day. This situation reflects the severity of the crisis in the national electrical system, which is unable to meet the energy demands of the population.
What are the main causes of blackouts in Cuba?
The main causes of power outages in Cuba include breakdowns and maintenance in the units of thermal power plants, along with a lack of fuel affecting distributed generation plants. Additionally, the use of outdated technologies and the lack of investment in infrastructure worsen the energy crisis in the country.
How do blackouts affect the Cuban population?
Blackouts seriously affect the quality of life of the Cuban population, limiting access to basic services such as cooking, the use of appliances, and food preservation. They also negatively impact productive sectors, hospitals, schools, and businesses, generating increasing social discontent.
What measures are being taken to mitigate the energy crisis in Cuba?
The Cuban government has implemented scheduled power outages and has prioritized supply for essential services such as hospitals. Additionally, new sources of renewable energy, such as solar parks, are being incorporated, although their contribution remains marginal compared to the significant structural deficit of the National Electric System (SEN).
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