On a Sunday in Cuba, eight thermoelectric units are offline as authorities predict power disruptions amounting to 1,615 MW during peak hours, leading to prolonged blackouts throughout the day. This situation mirrors Saturday's, when there was not a single moment without outages, with a maximum impact of 1,638 MW, surpassing the forecast of 1,530 MW, according to the daily report from the Unión Eléctrica (UNE).
The units currently out of service include Unit 3 of the CTE Cienfuegos, Unit 2 of the CTE Felton, and Unit 1 of the CTE Ernesto Guevara (Santa Cruz). Additionally, maintenance is being conducted on Units 2 and 3 of the CTE Santa Cruz, Unit 4 of the CTE Cienfuegos, Unit 5 of the CTE Nuevitas, and Unit 5 of the CTE Renté.
Moreover, due to fuel shortages, 63 distributed generation plants are not operational, accounting for 487 MW, with an additional 40 MW affected due to oil shortages in distributed generation motors, totaling 527 MW impacted, as detailed in the report.
The constraints in thermal generation stand at 288 MW. Meanwhile, the energy output from 12 newly installed solar photovoltaic parks reaches only 1,449 MWh. As of 7 a.m. on Sunday, the National Electric System (SEN) had an availability of 1,715 MW against a demand of 2,900 MW, resulting in 1,035 MW affected due to capacity deficit.
On average, a daily impact of 1,250 MW is expected. According to the UNE, during peak hours, the SEN will benefit from contributions by Unit 1 of the CTE Ernesto Guevara (Santa Cruz) and the recovery of 70 MW from diesel plants currently offline due to fuel shortages.
Nonetheless, projections indicate an availability of 1,855 MW and a maximum demand of 3,400 MW, leading to a shortfall of 1,545 MW. If these conditions persist, an impact of 1,615 MW is anticipated during peak hours.
Rotating Blackouts in Havana
Even in Havana, where the regime strives to maintain electricity to prevent social unrest, blackouts are unavoidable this Sunday. The Havana Electric Company announced power outages in the capital as follows: “Capital residents in block 5 will be affected from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., then block 2 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. From that time, block 1 will be impacted until 7:00 p.m. Block 4 will be affected from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and block 3 from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.”
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
Why are there frequent blackouts in Cuba?
Cuba experiences frequent blackouts due to a combination of aging infrastructure, fuel shortages, and maintenance issues in its thermoelectric plants, leading to insufficient power generation to meet demand.
Which areas are most affected by power outages in Cuba?
Power outages affect various regions across Cuba, including Havana, where even efforts to maintain stable electricity cannot prevent blackouts.
What measures are being taken to address the power shortage?
Efforts include maintaining and repairing existing thermoelectric units and incorporating new solar photovoltaic parks, though these measures have yet to resolve the ongoing crisis.