Residents of Matanzas are grappling with a severe energy crisis that left nearly the entire province in darkness this past Monday. This alarming situation was confirmed by Jorge Alejandro Rodríguez Azpeitia, the general director of the province's Electrical Company. In an interview with the state-run newspaper Girón, Rodríguez Azpeitia disclosed that energy generation levels were inadequate to sustain even minimal rotation between circuits.
“There is a significant generation shortfall nationwide. Yesterday, we managed to generate only 197 megawatts in the area, which resulted in almost the whole province being without power,” stated Rodríguez. The impact has been so severe that some circuits received electricity for merely two hours over a span of 32 hours.
He further elaborated, "The maximum disruption was 30 hours out of a possible 32. This translates into a very complex situation, leaving us with virtually no ability to maneuver or implement a rotation system.” The ongoing power generation deficit in Cuba has coincided with a spike in demand, exacerbating the crisis.
Rodríguez noted that daily demand peaks have been estimated at up to 3,600 megawatts, while available capacity falls significantly short. “We cannot specify rotations or schedules,” he mentioned, leaving residents with no expectation of when power might return.
The Matanzas Electrical Company attributed the crisis to technical data and national challenges. However, for the citizens, these blackouts have become a persistent threat to daily life, affecting not just households but also workplaces, hospitals, businesses, and essential services.
According to Rodríguez, they have a mere margin of 10 to 15 megawatts to attempt rotation between circuits, but since each circuit requires at least 2 to 3 megawatts to function, the number of areas that can receive power at any given time is minimal. The situation in Matanzas mirrors a national crisis that has been escalating over the years, raising fears of a potential widespread blackout at any moment.
The energy crisis gripping Cuba reached a new critical point on Tuesday, with widespread power outages reported across the country. The system's availability at 7:00 a.m. was just 1,480 megawatts, while demand exceeded 2,600 megawatts, creating an immediate deficit of 1,147 megawatts.
It is projected that by midday Tuesday, the outages may reach 1,400 megawatts—a significantly high figure for daytime hours. During peak evening hours, the general shortfall could surge to 1,668 megawatts. This situation prompted the Havana Electrical Company to introduce a new blackout block, number 5, as part of a reconfiguration of the outage schedule due to generation shortfalls increasingly impacting the capital.
An official notice on the Havana Government's Facebook page indicated that the new block will encompass areas within the municipalities of Boyeros, Arroyo Naranjo, La Lisa, Centro Habana, and Habana del Este.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the energy crisis in Cuba?
The energy crisis in Cuba is primarily due to a significant shortfall in power generation capacity, which has been unable to meet the rising demand. This situation has been exacerbated by technical challenges and national economic difficulties.
How is the crisis affecting daily life in Matanzas?
The crisis has led to widespread blackouts impacting households, workplaces, hospitals, and essential services, disrupting daily activities and creating significant challenges for residents.
Are there any solutions being proposed to address the power outages?
Efforts to address the power outages include reconfiguring blackout schedules and attempting to manage the limited power supply through rotations, but a long-term solution remains elusive.