The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) released its daily update on the status of the National Electric System (SEN) this Friday, forecasting power outages that could reach 1800 megawatts (MW) during the peak demand period this evening. This highlights a persistent imbalance between electricity generation capacity and consumption across the country, leading to extended blackouts since yesterday afternoon.
According to the official report, disruptions in service were recorded throughout Thursday, with a peak of 1680 MW offline at 7:20 pm, which was lower than anticipated but did not align with the day's highest demand.
Morning Availability and Midday Forecast
As of 7:00 am this Friday, UNE reported an available installed capacity of 1650 MW against a demand of 2710 MW, resulting in a shortfall of 1097 MW already causing service interruptions in several provinces. Projections suggest that by midday, the deficit could increase to 1250 MW, indicating more hours of scheduled rationing.
Peak Demand Outlook
During the evening peak, UNE anticipates demand to reach 3380 MW, while availability remains at 1650 MW. If these figures hold, the shortfall will be 1730 MW, leading to a total impact of 1800 MW. Such a level of power cuts will affect both industrial and residential supplies, with outages lasting several hours nationwide.
Causes of the Imbalance: Technical Issues, Maintenance, and Fuel Shortages
The report cites multiple reasons hindering the optimal operation of the SEN. Two units at the Mariel and Felton thermoelectric plants are out of service due to malfunctions. Maintenance work is also scheduled for four blocks at the Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Renté plants. Thermal limitations have sidelined an additional 399 MW.
Fuel shortages are impacting 104 distributed generation plants, equivalent to 725 MW, as well as the Mariel fuel plant, with 50 MW not operating. Although the eight recently operational solar parks contributed a total of 986 MWh to the grid, this output only partially alleviates the deficit and fails to address the structural imbalance between generation and consumption.
With this daily update, UNE acknowledges that the SEN is facing one of its most critical periods in recent years. Meanwhile, the public, weary of blackouts, demands the modernization of the grid and diversification of the energy matrix to ensure service stability.
Cuba's Power Shortage and Its Impact
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
The outages are primarily due to technical malfunctions, scheduled maintenance, thermal limitations, and fuel shortages affecting power generation capacity.
How are these power outages affecting Cuba?
The power outages are disrupting both industrial and residential electricity supply, leading to prolonged blackouts across the country.