As Cuba enters Good Friday, the nation is bracing for another wave of power outages due to a severe electricity generation shortfall that has left the National Electric System (SEN) in crisis. According to the island's Electric Union (UNE), power cuts could reach up to 1,435 megawatts (MW) during the peak evening hours. This follows a previous day where maximum disruptions hit 1,706 MW at 8:10 p.m., even before the peak demand period.
By 7:00 a.m., the SEN's available power was a mere 1,600 MW, while demand soared to 2,650 MW. At that time, 980 MW were already offline, a figure expected to rise to 1,250 MW by noon. As night falls, the deficit could climb to 1,365 MW, potentially leaving an estimated 1,435 MW without service. This dire situation is exacerbated by ongoing breakdowns and maintenance issues.
The Current Energy Crisis
Currently, the Mariel Power Plant's unit 5 and Felton Power Plant's unit 2 are non-operational, along with units 2 from Santa Cruz, 3 and 4 from Cienfuegos, and units 5 and 6 from Renté, all of which are undergoing scheduled maintenance. Additionally, 69 distributed generation plants are offline due to fuel shortages, equating to a loss of 627 MW, and 150 MW are stalled in Fuel Oil engines in Moa.
In total, 777 MW are unavailable because of fuel shortages, another 54 MW are down due to a lack of lubricants, and 322 MW face technical limitations in thermal generation. As a potential remedy, UNE is looking to add 135 MW through nine engines in Moa and recover an additional 300 MW, though these efforts are insufficient against the mounting deficit.
Renewable Energy and Public Impact
Meanwhile, solar power, inclusive of eight new photovoltaic parks, contributed just 1,068 MWh on the previous day, a figure that is largely symbolic compared to the country's actual needs. Despite official promises of sustainability and efficiency, the Cuban populace continues to endure daily blackouts, impacting households, workplaces, education, and essential services. On this Good Friday, most Cubans are preparing to spend both day and night in darkness, with no clear solutions or relief on the horizon.
The Future of Cuba's Power Generation
Recently, the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Thermoelectric Plant, located in the province of Cienfuegos, announced it is in the boiler testing phase as part of the pre-launch process for one of its generating blocks. Yet, what truly captures the public's attention is not the technical progress but rather the statement hinting at an uncertain future: “Compatriots, see you after April 20th, generating electricity for all of Cuba.”
Understanding Cuba's Power Shortage
Why is Cuba facing significant power outages?
Cuba is experiencing major power outages due to a severe electricity generation shortfall, technical breakdowns, maintenance issues, and fuel shortages affecting the National Electric System.
How are fuel shortages impacting Cuba's power plants?
Fuel shortages have led to the shutdown of 69 distributed generation plants and other power units, resulting in a significant loss of power capacity and exacerbating the electricity deficit.
What is the Cuban government's response to the power crisis?
The Cuban government is attempting to address the power crisis by bringing additional engines online and recovering some generating capacity, though these measures are inadequate to meet the demand.