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The situation in eastern Cuba worsens hours before the impact of Hurricane Melissa, as prolonged power outages prevent many families from preparing properly or staying informed about the cyclone's progress.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines reported on Facebook that the national electrical system remains in crisis with a generation deficit exceeding 1,700 megawatts, which affects service throughout the 24 hours of the day.
In the early hours of this Sunday, the system's availability was 1,490 MW, compared to a demand of 2,550 MW, resulting in 1,050 MW affected by a lack of generation capacity.
During the night of Saturday, the peak impact reached 1,809 MW at 7:50 PM, one of the highest recorded in recent weeks.
During the peak hours this Sunday, a demand loss of 1,710 MW is expected if current conditions persist.
The main causes of the deficit include breakdowns in units 3 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes thermal power plant, 2 of Felton, 8 of Mariel, and 6 of Renté, as well as several units undergoing maintenance, including unit 2 of Santa Cruz, unit 4 of Céspedes (Cienfuegos), and unit 6 of Diez de Octubre (Nuevitas).
The report further details that there are 442 MW limited in thermal generation and 827 MW out of service due to a lack of fuel and lubricant, which highlights the seriousness of the energy crisis.
The situation complicates the preparations for the arrival of Hurricane Melissa, which is advancing as a powerful Category 4 system with winds of 220 kilometers per hour.
In the eastern provinces—Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo—power outages hinder food preservation, communication, and evacuation efforts.
Authorities warn that the situation could worsen with the arrival of the rains and winds from the hurricane, which could cause new outages in the network and delays in repair work.
As the country faces a historic energy deficit, thousands of Cubans are left in the dark just as Hurricane Melissa threatens to hit the eastern region in the coming hours.
In Havana, the situation remains complex. According to an informative note from the Electric Company of Havana (EELH), the electricity service was disrupted for 18 hours and 4 minutes on Saturday, with a peak disruption of 243 MW at 9:00 PM.
As of the closing of the report, the service had not been fully restored, with 84 MW still affected in blocks 4 and 6.
The company explained that, due to the low availability of generation in the country, it was not possible to meet the planned electricity supply schedules, and reiterated that the interruptions “will depend on the demands of the National Electric System.”
The Cuban Meteorological Institute warned this Sunday about the imminent strong swells in the southern seas of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo, caused by the proximity of the powerful Hurricane Melissa, which has reached category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
According to the latest tropical cyclone advisory No. 12, issued by the Forecast Center, the meteorological phenomenon has undergone a process of rapid intensification in recent hours, with sustained winds of 220 kilometers per hour and a central pressure of 944 hectoPascals.
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