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After several weeks during which Cuba faced extreme energy generation deficits, the Electric Union (UNE) reported somewhat lower figures of blackouts this weekend.
The decrease does not signify a solution to the problem, but it does represent a change compared to recent days, when the imbalance between supply and demand ranged between 1,800 and over 2,000 megawatts (MW), leading to power outages of more than 15 hours in many areas.
In its statement this Sunday, February 8, UNE revealed that on Saturday, the service was disrupted due to capacity issues for 18 hours and 55 minutes, and that electricity was fully restored past midnight. However, at 5:23 am, the disruption began again.
The highest recorded generation deficit was 1,536 megawatts (MW) at 6:20 PM.
This Sunday morning, the system showed a capacity of 1,280 MW against a demand of 1,740 MW, resulting in a deficit of 490 MW. By noon, an even greater shortfall of 900 MW is expected.
The causes of this situation are structural. The national electrical system continues to be affected by a combination of failures, prolonged maintenance, and technical limitations in thermal generation.
Currently, four thermoelectric units from the CTE Mariel, Santa Cruz del Norte, Felton, and Antonio Maceo are out of service due to breakdowns.
This is in addition to the maintenance shutdowns of two units at the Nuevitas and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes plants in Cienfuegos.
Additionally, the thermal generation has a limitation of 490 MW that cannot be integrated into the system.
During the evening peak hours, the UNE announced that it expected to complete 70 MW in unit one of Felton, incorporate four engines from the Regla barge with 30 MW, and add another six engines in Moa that would contribute 84 MW.
With those reinforcements, the estimated availability would be 1,464 MW against a forecasted peak demand of 2,980 MW, resulting in a deficit of over 1,500 MW and a similar impact on consumers.
The state-owned company also highlighted that the 49 new photovoltaic solar parks produced over 3,300 MW/h during the day, with a peak delivery of nearly 600 MW around noon.
Although this contribution helps to partially alleviate the burden during the day, it is not enough to meet the nighttime demand or to compensate for the collapse of the thermoelectric plants.
The fact that this weekend there were reports of somewhat fewer blackouts than in previous days does not erase the underlying reality: Cuba is experiencing a deep energy crisis, caused by years of mismanagement, lack of real investment, and decisions that have left the electrical system without technical support or sufficient fuel.
The population continues to bear the consequences of an inefficient model that has been unable to guarantee basic services.
While the government insists on presenting daily reports with numbers and promises of recovery, the everyday life of Cubans remains marked by uncertainty, prolonged blackouts, and a lack of structural solutions.
The temporary reduction in the impact does not change the fact that the country has reached this point due to the state's inability to plan, maintain, and modernize an electrical system on which the entire nation relies.
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