Blackouts approach 2,000 MW in Cuba: There have now been 15 consecutive days with the National Electric System in a permanent red status

Cuba woke up this Monday with the National Electric System (SEN) on the brink of total collapse, after accumulating 15 consecutive days with deficits exceeding 1,800 MW, according to daily reports from the Electric Union (UNE).

The new official report confirms that throughout Sunday, the service was affected for 24 hours, with a maximum impact of 1,950 MW at 6:20 PM.

The country now enters its third week of critical blackouts, with generation levels that do not even meet two-thirds of the national demand. The availability of the national electrical system at 6:00 AM this Monday is only 1,420 MW compared to a demand of 2,350 MW, leaving nearly 40% of the country without electricity since dawn. The national electrical company anticipates that the shortfall during midday hours will reach 1,100 MW.

During the nighttime peak, the state-owned company estimates a supply of 1,445 MW and a maximum demand of 3,400 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,955 MW and a projected impact of 1,985 MW. In other words, more than half of the country will once again be in the dark tonight.

The technical report details that the system is operating with three thermoelectric plants out of service due to breakdowns—Unit 5 of the Máximo Gómez CTE (Mariel), Unit 5 of the Nuevitas CTE, and Unit 2 of the Felton CTE—while another four are halted for scheduled maintenance. Additionally, 475 MW remain limited due to failures in thermal generation.

The structural crisis of the thermoelectric plant is compounded by the lack of fuel and lubricants, keeping 100 distributed generation plants (909 MW) shut down and an additional 87 MW out of service due to a shortage of lubricant, bringing the total unavailable capacity due to logistical issues to 996 MW.

Although the 33 new photovoltaic solar parks contributed 2,378 MWh with a maximum output of 462 MW at noon, this contribution barely compensates for a fraction of the national deficit.

The Cuban power grid thus remains in a "permanent red" since December 1, with over two weeks of widespread blackouts that worsen the social and economic crisis throughout the country. The UNE does not provide any prospects for immediate improvement, and with each passing day, the threshold of 2,000 MW becomes the new normal of the Cuban blackout.