Cuba's National Electric System (SEN) is grappling with a severe power generation shortfall, resulting in continuous blackouts over the past 24 hours, with more disruptions expected. The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) reported that on Friday night, outages peaked at 1,584 megawatts (MW) around 9:00 pm, surpassing expectations due to the failure of Unit 6 at the Mariel Thermal Power Plant to come online. The situation persisted throughout the early hours of Saturday.
As of 7:00 am today, the system's available capacity stood at 1,820 MW, while demand reached 2,900 MW, leading to a shortfall of 1,134 MW. Projections for midday suggest an impact of approximately 1,100 MW.
Technical Failures and Fuel Shortages Compound Energy Crisis
The energy outlook remains bleak, exacerbated by breakdowns at key thermal power plants. Units at Mariel and Felton are offline due to technical issues, and five other units across Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, Nuevitas, and Renté are undergoing scheduled maintenance. Additional thermal limitations have sidelined another 294 MW.
A critical issue is the ongoing fuel shortage. Sixty-eight distributed generation plants are inactive because of this, and 235 MW cannot operate due to oil shortages in engines. Overall, fuel-related issues have sidelined 749 MW from the grid.
Solar Energy Falls Short
The recent addition of 12 solar photovoltaic parks has only contributed 1,517 MWh, which is insufficient to offset the current deficit.
Peak Hour Projections
For tonight's peak hours, the UNE forecasts an availability of 1,890 MW against a peak demand of 3,350 MW, resulting in a 1,460 MW deficit. If conditions do not improve, authorities anticipate up to 1,530 MW of interruptions during this period.
Scheduled Blackouts in Havana
Havana's Electric Company has detailed a schedule for rotating blackouts on its Facebook page, with planned outages as follows:
- Block #3: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
- Block #4: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
- Block #5: 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
- Block #1: 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
- Block #2: 8:00 pm to 12:00 am
Ongoing Energy Crisis with No Immediate Solution
Despite governmental promises to integrate more solar parks and boost renewable energy usage, Cuba's energy crisis remains dire. Daily blackouts continue to plague the nation, disrupting the economy, everyday life, and essential services across the island.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Shortage
What is causing the continuous power outages in Cuba?
The ongoing power outages in Cuba are primarily due to a significant shortfall in power generation caused by technical failures at major thermal plants and a severe fuel shortage.
How much power is currently unavailable in Cuba?
Cuba is experiencing a power deficit of over 1,500 MW, with several power plants offline due to technical and fuel supply issues.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has announced plans to incorporate more solar power and increase the use of renewable energy, but the situation remains critical without immediate solutions.