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The Electric Union (UNE) reported this Friday that, at 7:29 in the morning, Unit 6 of the Diez de Octubre Thermal Power Plant (CTE), located in Nuevitas, Camagüey, went out of service.
The notice was issued through the official Facebook page of UNE, where they specified that they will continue to provide updates regarding the plant's situation and the technical status of the block.
About 12 hours earlier, they had announced the synchronization of Unit 5 of the same plant, providing a brief respite amid the instability affecting the national power system.
In another report, the UNE announced that at 3:35 AM, Unit 3 of the Antonio Maceo Thermoelectric Plant, known as Renté, in Santiago de Cuba, was reconnected to the grid.
The constant fluctuations in the availability of power generation blocks define the daily reality in Cuba, with frequent interruptions due to unexpected outages and prolonged maintenance.
How does the SEN greet this Friday?
The UNE reported that the SEN's availability at 6:00 AM was 1,660 MW and the demand was 2,820 MW, with 1,190 MW affected by capacity deficit.
Unit 2 of the Felton Thermal Power Plant is out of service, and Units 5 of the Mariel Thermal Power Plant, Unit 2 of the Santa Cruz Thermal Power Plant, Unit 4 of the Cienfuegos Thermal Power Plant, and Unit 1 of the Felton Thermal Power Plant are under maintenance.
The country is experiencing generation problems due to a lack of fuel, with 53 distributed generation plants having 345 MW and 117 MW unavailable due to a lack of lubricant. This results in a total of 452 MW affected by this issue.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy Crisis in Cuba
Why was Unit 6 of the Diez de Octubre thermoelectric plant taken out of service?
Unit 6 of the Diez de Octubre thermoelectric plant has gone offline for technical reasons, as part of the ongoing fluctuations in the availability of electricity generation units in Cuba. These outages are common due to the lack of maintenance and frequent breakdowns in the country’s power plants.
What impact does the synchronization of units have on the National Electric System (SEN) of Cuba?
The synchronization of units to the SEN aims to alleviate the blackout crisis in Cuba, although the impact is generally limited due to the electrical demand exceeding the available generation capacity. Recent synchronizations of units in Cienfuegos and Mariel, for example, have contributed to the system, but they have not been sufficient to cover the energy deficit that the country is facing.
How does the lack of fuel affect electricity generation in Cuba?
The lack of fuel is one of the main causes of the energy crisis in Cuba. It has rendered many distributed generation plants non-operational, significantly reducing electricity generation capacity. The scarcity of diesel and other energy sources has worsened the blackouts, severely impacting the daily lives of Cubans.
What measures are being taken to mitigate blackouts in Cuba?
Efforts are being made to synchronize more units to the SEN and increase renewable generation, such as the installation of photovoltaic solar parks. However, these efforts have not been sufficient to offset the energy deficit. Aging infrastructure and a lack of fuel continue to be significant obstacles to improving the situation.
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