A new round of power outages affected Havana and other regions of the country this Saturday due to a fault in the 9020-9015 lines, which connect the Naranjito and Melones substations. This caused an explosion at the Talla Piedra substation.
In the capital, the service was interrupted for more than eight hours, with a maximum impact of 108 MW at 7:00 PM, as reported by the Empresa Eléctrica de La Habana (EELH).
The situation worsened with the unexpected departure of unit Felton 1 at 11:40 PM, increasing the deficit to 120 MW. Service in the city did not begin to be restored until 1:04 AM, and it was not until 3:46 AM that the deficit impact was completely eliminated.
The electric company reported that it had planned to affect blocks 2, 5, 6, and 1 at different times on Saturday, but it claims that it ultimately was not necessary to disconnect them. However, it warned that these outages will depend in the future on the behavior of the National Electric System (SEN).
The Electric Company of Havana and the Electric Union have not shared any new information about the explosion that occurred this Saturday at the Talla Piedra substation. In this regard, they only confirm that service has been restored in the affected areas of the capital.
The shutdown of unit 1 at Felton is due to a leak in the boiler. It is in the cooling process. Unit 2 of the same power plant is also out of service.
National crisis: deficit of over 1,500 MW
The situation in the capital is not isolated. The Unión Eléctrica reported that the SEN is maintaining critical levels across the country. On Saturday, there was a continuous disruption of the electricity service for 24 hours, with a maximum peak of 1,584 MW of deficit at 7:00 PM.
This Sunday, at 6:00 a.m., the national availability was just 1,480 MW, compared to a demand of 2,520 MW, leaving 1,029 MW unmet. By noon, the deficit is expected to increase to 1,300 MW.
Among the main causes of the system's collapse are:
- Breakdowns in units 1 and 2 of the CTE Felton, unit 8 of Mariel, and unit 3 of Renté.
- Scheduled maintenance in unit 2 of Santa Cruz del Norte and unit 4 of Cienfuegos.
- Thermal limitations: 422 MW out of service.
- Fuel Issues: 47 distributed generation plants are shut down due to a lack of fuel, affecting an additional 285 MW. In addition, there are another 327 MW unavailable due to a lack of lubricants. In total, 612 MW are reported to be affected solely by a lack of fuel.
Insufficient solar energy
Despite diversifying the energy matrix, the production from the 32 photovoltaic solar parks contributed only 2,443 MWh in a day, with a peak power of 318 MW. This volume is clearly insufficient to meet the national demand, which is expected to reach 3,250 MW during the peak nighttime hours this Sunday.
The government estimates that the startup of unit 3 of the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant will add only 70 MW, resulting in a projected deficit of 1,680 MW during peak hours and a total impact of up to 1,750 MW, if conditions do not improve.
Blackouts that no longer surprise
Frequent and prolonged blackouts have become a part of daily life in Cuba. The obsolescence of the electrical system, fuel shortages, the deterioration of thermoelectric plants, and the weak capacity for renewable generation exacerbate a crisis that, far from improving, deepens with each passing day.
Meanwhile, citizens continue to express their discontent on social media due to the lack of effective responses from the authorities.
Frequently asked questions about the energy crisis in Cuba
What is the current situation of the energy deficit in Cuba?
The energy deficit in Cuba is critical, with a shortfall of over 1,500 MW and ongoing disruptions in the electrical service across the country. This situation is exacerbated by breakdowns in several thermoelectric units and a lack of fuel, which has led to prolonged and frequent blackouts in various regions, including Havana.
What are the main causes of the energy collapse in Cuba?
The main causes of the energy collapse in Cuba include breakdowns in key thermoelectric units, scheduled maintenance that fails to be completed on time, thermal limitations, and a severe shortage of fuel that keeps many distributed generation plants inactive. Additionally, the renewable generation capacity is insufficient to meet national demand.
How does this energy crisis affect the daily life of Cubans?
The energy crisis severely impacts the daily lives of Cubans, as they face prolonged power outages that complicate food preservation, the management of household activities, and the operation of medical equipment at home. The high summer temperatures further exacerbate the situation, creating discontent and frustration among the population.
What measures has the Cuban government taken to address the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has attempted to diversify the energy matrix with the installation of photovoltaic solar parks, although its contribution is insufficient to cover the structural deficit. Furthermore, communications have been maintained regarding strategies to recover the electrical system, but the lack of effective actions and the ongoing fuel shortage limit the possibility of a short-term solution.
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