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Eight thermal power units are out of service on a Sunday in Cuba, where authorities forecast 1615 MW of disruptions during peak hours and long blackouts throughout the day.
The situation is similar to that of Saturday, when there wasn't a single minute without blackouts, reaching a maximum impact of 1,638 MW, exceeding the forecast of 1,530, according to the daily report from Unión Eléctrica (UNE)
This Sunday, unit 3 of the CTE Cienfuegos, unit 2 of the CTE Felton, and unit 1 of the CTE Ernesto Guevara (Santa Cruz) are out of service. Additionally, units 2 and 3 of the CTE Santa Cruz, unit 4 of the CTE Cienfuegos, unit 5 of the CTE Nuevitas, and unit 5 of the CTE Renté are under maintenance.
Additionally, 63 distributed generation plants with a capacity of 487 MW are out of service due to fuel issues. Furthermore, 40 MW are affected due to a lack of oil in the distributed generation engines, resulting in a total impact of 527 MW, according to the information provided
Therefore, the limitations in thermal generation are 288 MW, while the energy production from the 12 new photovoltaic solar parks only reaches 1,449 MWh.
At 7 a.m. this Sunday, the availability of the National Electric System (SEN) was 1,715 MW, the demand was 2,900 MW, with 1,035 MW affected by capacity deficit.
On average, a disruption of 1250 MW is estimated for the day.
For its part, during peak hours, the UNE assures that unit 1 of the Ernesto Guevara CTE (Santa Cruz) will contribute to the SEN along with the recovery of 70 MW from diesel plants that are offline due to fuel shortages.
However, as we observed, an availability of 1855 MW is estimated, with a maximum demand of 3400 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1545 MW.
Thus, if the expected conditions persist, an impact of 1615 MW is forecasted during peak hours.
Rotating blackouts in Havana
Not even in the capital, where the regime tries to maintain the electric supply to avoid social unrest, are they spared from blackouts this Sunday.
The Electric Company of Havana announced power outages in the capital as follows: “customers in the capital associated with block 5 will be affected from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, then from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm block 2 will be affected, and from that time, block 1 will rotate and be affected until 7:00 pm. From 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, block 4 will be affected, and from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm, block 3 will be affected.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Blackouts in Cuba
How many thermoelectric units are currently out of service in Cuba?
Currently, eight thermoelectric units are out of service in Cuba. These breakdowns are significantly contributing to the blackouts affecting the country, at times exceeding initial forecasts of energy impact.
What is the forecast for energy impact during peak hours in Cuba?
For peak hours, an impact of 1615 MW is forecasted due to insufficient generation in the National Electric System (SEN). The expected demand far exceeds the current generation capacity, worsening the energy crisis on the island.
What other factors are contributing to the blackouts in Cuba?
In addition to the breakdowns in the thermoelectric units, the lack of fuel and thermal limitations are worsening the energy situation in Cuba. The shortage of basic resources for energy generation has left many distributed generation plants idle, increasing the energy deficit.
How does the energy crisis affect daily life in Cuba?
The energy crisis significantly affects the daily lives of Cubans, impacting not only access to basic services such as electricity but also the functioning of industries and transportation. Frequent power outages create social unrest and complicate daily life on the island.
What measures are being taken to mitigate blackouts in Cuba?
So far, no new structural measures have been announced to address the energy crisis. The situation remains critical due to the lack of significant recovery in the energy infrastructure and the unstable supply of fuels, indicating that power outages will continue in the near future.
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