Cuba's Electric Union (UNE) reported this Friday that the National Electric System (SEN) continues to face a critical situation, with power outages that have persisted over the last 24 hours and will extend throughout the day.
According to the official report published on , the highest impact on Thursday reached 1582 MW, recorded at 10:00 PM, during peak demand. Throughout the early hours of this Friday, the service continued to be affected continuously.
Current state of the SEN:
The generation availability at 7:00 AM was 1980 MW, with a demand of 2960 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1025 MW.
By noon, an impact of 1150 MW is expected.
Main causes of the electricity deficit:
Among the causes of the deficit this Friday are four units out of service due to breakdowns, located in the thermoelectric plants Cienfuegos, Felton, Nuevitas, and Renté.
Additionally, three other blocks from the CTE Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Renté are undergoing scheduled maintenance.
The limitations in thermal generation are on the order of 358 MW.
There are 47 distributed generation plants, providing 308 MW, out of service due to a lack of fuel.
Another 136 MW are out of the system due to a lack of oil in the distributed generation engines.
On the renewable energy side, the 12 photovoltaic solar parks contributed a total production of 1,400 MWh, with a peak output of 324 MW delivered at noon.
Forecast for peak hours:
The UNE anticipates that during the peak demand hours at night, the availability will rise to 2030 MW, but with an expected demand of 3500 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1470 MW.
The estimated impact at that time will reach 1540 MW, a situation that will lead to new extended blackouts across the country.
The energy situation remains critical, and despite efforts to maintain system stability, the obsolescence of the thermoelectric plants, logistical limitations, and technical issues in distributed generation continue to severely impact the electricity supply.
Frequently asked questions about the energy crisis in Cuba
What is the current situation of the electrical system in Cuba?
The current situation of the electrical system in Cuba is critical, with a generation deficit exceeding 1,500 MW. This has led to prolonged blackouts and disruptions in the electricity supply throughout the country. The obsolescence of the thermal power plant fleet, breakdowns, and the lack of fuel are some of the main causes of this crisis.
What are the main causes of the electric deficit in Cuba?
The main causes of the electrical deficit in Cuba include breakdowns in several thermoelectric units, prolonged maintenance, and a lack of fuel. Additionally, thermal limitations and insufficient distributed generation exacerbate the problem. The fuel shortage has left many plants out of service, significantly affecting generation capacity.
What impact do power outages have on the daily lives of Cubans?
Prolonged blackouts in Cuba seriously affect the quality of life of citizens, complicating access to basic services such as water and food refrigeration. Furthermore, these power outages impact economic activity and essential services, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and desperation among the population.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the energy crisis?
Despite announcements regarding the introduction of solar parks and plans to increase the use of renewable energy, the Cuban government has not implemented effective structural solutions to address the energy crisis. Promises of long-term solutions and temporary measures have failed to alleviate the problem, leaving citizens in an unsustainable situation.
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