The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) has admitted that the country faced a chaotic weekend due to widespread power outages, resulting from inadequate power generation capacity. According to UNE's daily report, the electric service was disrupted for 24 hours on Saturday and continued to affect residents into the early hours of Sunday. The peak disruption occurred at 7:20 PM, reaching 1,617 MW.
Despite this, Lázaro Guerra Hernández, the General Director of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, expressed relief on the state-run Canal Caribe, noting that the impact was 1,617 megawatts instead of the initially forecasted 1,700. "Demand was lower than expected, reducing the impact to 1,617 megawatts at 7:20 PM," he stated.
In certain provinces such as Cienfuegos and Sancti Spíritus, electricity was available for only three to six hours due to a generation capacity shortfall lasting the entire day. On Sunday morning, the National Electrical System (SEN) reported a capacity of 1,900 MW against a demand of 2,500 MW, resulting in a 950 MW deficit during daylight hours.
For the peak consumption period, the anticipated capacity stands at 1,857 MW with a maximum demand of 3,300 MW, leaving a shortfall of 1,443 MW. If conditions persist, an impact of 1,513 MW is expected during this peak time.
Challenges Facing the Electrical Grid
The UNE official explained that the situation is exacerbated by two malfunctioning units, four undergoing maintenance, and a significant fuel shortage. "We still face considerable unavailability due to diesel shortages in distributed generation, slightly better than previous days, but still significantly impacting operations," he noted.
A total of 90 distributed generation plants are non-operational due to fuel shortages, collectively accounting for 656 MW. Electric companies in Sancti Spíritus and Santiago de Cuba have reported an inability to meet demand. In Sancti Spíritus, officials warned that the province is at its "maximum blackout capacity," preventing the planned rotation until the National Electrical System improves.
"We cannot specify a schedule for circuit restoration. Once service is restored, it will last between 1 and 2 hours," they communicated via Telegram.
Regional Impact and Public Outcry
In Cienfuegos, nearly universal blackouts have occurred due to simultaneous maintenance on both units of the local "Carlos Manuel de Céspedes" thermoelectric plant and severe fuel shortages affecting distributed generation. The province has experienced deficits of up to 80 MW recently, a figure termed "extreme" since the maximum manageable blackout under normal conditions is 85 MW, including essential services. Reaching an 80 MW deficit leaves nearly all of Cienfuegos without power, with few exceptions.
Public outrage has reached a critical point due to repeated failures to adhere to the blackout schedule. In Havana, despite informational updates via social media and official channels, residents have reported early outages, unexpected extensions of cuts, and unequal distribution of power cuts.
Scheduled outages, intended to follow set time blocks, have been altered without notice, heightening frustration among citizens already discontent with the energy scarcity.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Power Crisis
What caused the recent power outages in Cuba?
The recent power outages in Cuba were due to insufficient power generation capacity, exacerbated by malfunctioning units, maintenance issues, and a significant shortage of diesel fuel.
How are the power shortages affecting Cuban provinces?
Provinces such as Cienfuegos and Sancti Spíritus experienced severe shortages, with electricity available for only a few hours a day. The outages have led to widespread disruption and public frustration.
What measures are being taken to address these power issues?
Efforts are being made to repair malfunctioning units and address fuel shortages. However, the situation remains challenging, with significant deficits expected to continue impacting the power supply.