The energy crisis in Cuba shows no signs of abating. On Thursday, the Unión Eléctrica (UNE) reported that the country experienced service disruptions throughout the previous day, with interruptions continuing into the early hours of today. The peak impact reached 1462 MW at 8:50 pm, coinciding with the time of highest national demand. By 7:00 am, the National Electric System (SEN) had a mere 1695 MW available against a demand of 2750 MW, resulting in a 1133 MW shortfall due to capacity deficits.
As the day progresses, the situation remains dire, with projections indicating the impact will rise to 1200 MW by midday.
System Collapse: A Failing Infrastructure
The official report highlights the operational collapse of the SEN. A combination of widespread breakdowns, scheduled maintenance, thermal limitations, and fuel shortages are symptoms of an outdated and poorly managed system. Three units are out of service due to failures at the CTE Mariel, Nuevitas, and Felton plants. Meanwhile, four other units are undergoing maintenance at the CTE Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, Diez de Octubre, and Renté. Additionally, thermal limitations have removed 277 MW from the system.
Fuel shortages compound these issues, leaving 68 distributed generation plants (489 MW) unusable, with another 86 MW offline due to a lack of oil for engines, totaling 575 MW affected by this cause.
Bleak Outlook for Peak Usage
The UNE anticipates a minor recovery of 80 MW during peak hours, thanks to the partial reintegration of some distributed generation engines. However, this improvement is negligible in the grand scheme: with an estimated availability of 1775 MW and a projected demand of 3250 MW, a deficit of 1475 MW is expected, resulting in an even greater impact of 1545 MW during peak consumption times.
Solar Power: Not Enough to Bridge the Gap
Amidst the collapse, there is a slight glimmer of hope with the contribution from 16 new photovoltaic solar parks, which delivered 1289 MWh and reached a maximum output of 366 MW. While significant, this output remains insufficient to offset the overall system decline.
Living in Darkness: No End in Sight
Blackouts have become a daily reality for millions of Cubans, extending beyond nighttime hours and affecting all provinces. The government has yet to offer sustainable solutions or genuine transparency regarding the state of the energy infrastructure. While authorities continue to blame external factors, evidence points to chronic maintenance neglect, over-reliance on fossil fuels without logistical support, and structural inefficiencies as the core reasons for the national energy disaster.
In summary, Cuba faces another dawn shrouded in more darkness than light, with no credible plan in sight to emerge from the blackout.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What are the main causes of the energy crisis in Cuba?
The energy crisis in Cuba is primarily caused by widespread system failures, scheduled maintenance, thermal limitations, and severe fuel shortages, all of which reflect an outdated and mismanaged infrastructure.
How is the Cuban government addressing the blackout situation?
Currently, the government has not presented sustainable solutions or sufficient transparency regarding the energy infrastructure's condition, continuing to blame external factors for the crisis.
Can solar power help alleviate Cuba's energy issues?
While the new photovoltaic solar parks contribute to energy production, their output is not enough to compensate for the general system collapse and meet the country's energy demands.