The latest statement from the Unión Eléctrica (UNE) on June 16 reveals that Cuba experienced widespread power outages throughout the previous day, continuing into the early hours of Monday. On Sunday, the highest recorded disruption was 1,630 MW at 9:10 PM, surpassing planned expectations due to greater-than-predicted demand. This situation underscores the National Electric System's (SEN) complete inability to meet even basic consumption needs.
Critical Power Availability
As of 7:00 AM Monday, the UNE reported a mere 1,770 MW available against a demand of 2,965 MW, resulting in a shortfall of 1,237 MW. If current conditions persist, the deficit could reach 1,650 MW during peak evening hours. To mitigate this deficit, plans include adding Unit 3 of the CTE Renté with just 60 MW, and five engines at the Moa fuel plant, also contributing 60 MW. However, these additions fall short as the maximum demand is projected to be 3,470 MW, while availability would only reach 1,890 MW.
Widespread Incidents and Structural Failures
The SEN faces a dire situation, with several thermoelectric units offline due to breakdowns or scheduled maintenance. Units affected include Unit 5 of the CTE Mariel, Unit 2 of the CTE Felton, and Unit 3 of the CTE Renté. Scheduled maintenance impacts Unit 2 of the CTE Santa Cruz, Unit 4 of the CTE Cienfuegos, Unit 6 of the CTE Diez de Octubre, and Unit 5 of the CTE Renté. Thermal constraints further contribute to 363 MW being out of service, exacerbating the crisis.
Adding to the crisis, fuel shortages critically affect operations: 72 distributed generation plants are non-operational due to this, amounting to a loss of 443 MW. Additionally, 66 MW are offline due to a lack of oil in distributed generation engines, totaling 509 MW rendered useless by the shortage of energy resources.
Solar Parks Fall Short
The UNE noted that 16 new solar photovoltaic parks generated 1,637 MWh on Sunday, with a peak output of 360 MW. Despite this renewable contribution, it fails to offset the massive structural deficits in the thermal system and fuel shortages. Power outages are not a new phenomenon in Cuba, having disrupted daily life for millions for over five years.
In some areas, blackouts exceed 20 hours daily, hindering work, education, cooking, food preservation, and rest. In a country with a stagnant economy and widespread scarcity of resources, electricity has become a luxury. Meanwhile, hopelessness grows. Official promises fail to bring real improvements, deepening the sense of abandonment with each night shrouded in darkness.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What are the main causes of Cuba's power outages?
Cuba's power outages are primarily caused by the inability of the National Electric System to meet demand, structural failures in thermoelectric units, and severe fuel shortages.
How do fuel shortages impact Cuba's electricity generation?
Fuel shortages critically affect electricity generation by rendering distributed generation plants inoperative, resulting in significant losses in available power.
Can solar power compensate for Cuba's energy shortfall?
While solar power contributes to the energy grid, it is insufficient to compensate for the large deficits in the thermal power system and the ongoing fuel shortages.