The Electric Union (UNE) warned this Saturday that the night peak hours could experience an impact of 1,860 MW, with a mere availability of 970 MW against a projected demand of 2,800 MW, according to the official informative report published on social media.
On Friday, the electrical service was interrupted for a full 24 hours, without exception even in the early morning, with a maximum impact of 1,912 MW recorded at 6:20 PM.
This Saturday, at six in the morning, the National Electroenergetic System (SEN) had only 920 MW available against a demand of 2,222 MW, leaving 1,301 MW without coverage. By noon, an impact of 1,450 MW was estimated.
The crisis is due to the simultaneous collapse of several thermoelectric plants. According to UNE, unit 1 of the Santa Cruz thermoelectric plant, the unit of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, unit 2 of the Felton thermoelectric plant, and unit 6 of the Renté thermoelectric plant are out of operation.
In addition, units 3 in Santa Cruz, 5 in Nuevitas, 1 in Felton, and 5 in Renté are under maintenance, resulting in thermal generation limitations totaling 283 MW.
The only anticipated relief for the nighttime peak is the entry of unit 6 of the Renté power plant, with just 50 MW, a marginal figure compared to a deficit of 1,830 MW.
The CTE Antonio Guiteras, the largest thermoelectric plant in the country, with an installed capacity of 320 MW and nearly 38 years in operation without a complete capital repair in the last 16 years, went offline from the SEN on Wednesday due to a leak in the boiler's economizer.
It was her 28th departure this year. The subsequent inspection detected perforations in the economizer, the high-temperature reheater, and the feeder area. It was estimated that she could begin her reintegration early Monday morning.
The Ernesto Guevara Power Plant has come to a complete halt on Friday due to the failure of its unit 2, with all three of its blocks out of service totaling 295 MW without generation. The Felton Power Plant, located in Holguín, has been completely nonoperational for nearly three weeks.
The eastern provinces faced severe consequences. Las Tunas was disconnected from the National Electric System and was left with only 15 MW, sufficient only for essential services with rotations of approximately two hours.
Granma experienced a massive blackout following the shutdown of a 110 kV transmission line connecting it to Santiago de Cuba, forcing hospitals and essential services to operate with generators.
Solar photovoltaic parks contributed 1,762 MWh on Friday, with a maximum power output of 274 MW at noon; however, their contribution drops to zero during peak nighttime demand, which is precisely when the deficit reaches its most critical levels.
The maximum impact during the peak has steadily increased throughout the week: 1,764 MW on Sunday, 1,816 MW on Monday, 1,883 MW on Tuesday, 1,920 MW on Wednesday, and 1,912 MW on Friday, a progression that reflects the accelerated deterioration of an energy infrastructure that the Cuban regime has failed to stabilize all year.
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