Cuba's Electric Union (UNE) announced on Friday one of the worst blackout days of the year, with an estimated deficit of up to 1,870 megawatts (MW) during peak hours, which accounts for more than half of the national demand.
The situation affects millions of Cubans who the day before faced power outages lasting 24 hours, with a peak impact of 1,691 MW at 10:00 PM. The situation continued into the early hours of today.
According to the official report from the state-owned company, the situation extended into the early hours of this Friday.
At 7:00 am, the availability of the National Electric System (SEN) was only 1,390 MW, while the demand was around 2,800 MW, resulting in a real shortfall of 1,440 MW due to capacity deficit.
By noon, it is expected that the number will rise to 1,450 MW.
For the peak night hours, the forecast is alarming: a deficit of 1,870 MW, with only 1,700 MW available against an expected demand of 3,570 MW.
A system on the brink of collapse
The report outlines a long list of issues in the country's thermal power plants:
Five units from the thermoelectric plants Mariel, Nuevitas, Felton, and Renté are out of service.
In maintenance, there are three blocks from the CTE Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Renté.
Thermal limitations: 365 MW out of service.
This is compounded by the chronic fuel shortages, which leave 98 distributed generation plants (573 MW) inactive, along with 110 MW at the Mariel fuel facility and an additional 36 MW due to a lack of oil for engines. In total, 719 MW are out of the system for this reason.
Scheduled blackouts in Havana
The Electric Company of Havana reported service interruptions in the capital according to the following schedule:
From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm: Block #4 will be affected.
From 11:00 am to 3:00 pm: Block #5 will be affected.
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, block #2 will rotate.
From 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, block #3 will be affected.
From 8:00 PM to 12:00 AM, block #1 will be affected.
Solar energy, still insufficient
Despite the addition of 18 new photovoltaic solar parks, their contribution remains modest in light of the magnitude of the problem. On Thursday, they generated a total of 1,220 MWh, with a peak output of 287 MW recorded at noon.
A bleak outlook
For peak hours, the UNE anticipates the contribution of several smaller sources: unit 3 of Energás Varadero (30 MW), the fuel from Mariel (110 MW), unit 5 of Nuevitas (55 MW), and the fuel from Moa (115 MW).
Still, the gap between generation and demand will remain critical.
If the Unión Eléctrica's forecast of 1,870 MW is met, Cuba will have recorded the third highest deficit in recent years this Friday.
The most severe, at 1,901 MW, was reported on April 23 and set an absolute record. The second, at 1,880 MW, occurred just this past Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Cuban people remain plunged into prolonged blackouts, lacking electricity to cook, refrigerate food, or simply endure the sweltering summer heat.
The situation worsens without a clear explanation of when and how the government will manage to stabilize the SEN.
The only certainty is that the energy crisis in Cuba shows no signs of relief, and every new report from the UNE is a sentence of darkness.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy Crisis in Cuba
What is the current energy deficit in Cuba?
The Electric Union of Cuba has announced a deficit of 1,870 MW during peak hours, which represents more than half of the national demand. This deficit is one of the highest recorded this year and severely impacts the population with prolonged blackouts.
What are the main causes of the energy crisis in Cuba?
The energy crisis in Cuba is due to a combination of failures in thermoelectric plants, scheduled maintenance, thermal limitations, and a chronic shortage of fuel. These causes have taken 719 MW of generating capacity offline, worsening the problem of blackouts across the country.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the energy crisis?
Despite the incorporation of new photovoltaic solar parks, the contribution of this source is still insufficient to address the energy deficit. No effective structural solutions have been announced to stabilize the National Electric System, and the government has not provided a clear plan to overcome the crisis.
How does the energy crisis affect the Cuban population?
The Cuban population is facing prolonged power outages that impact their daily lives, hindering basic activities such as cooking, refrigerating food, or combating the heat. The quality of life is deteriorating more and more, as basic services are compromised by the instability of the electricity supply.
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