The Cuban Electrical Union (UNE) has announced that the National Electrical System (SEN) will continue facing disruptions throughout July 11, with scheduled power outages affecting various provinces due to a generation shortfall. According to the official report, the nation experienced blackouts throughout Thursday, which persisted into the early hours of Friday. The most significant impact occurred at 10:00 p.m., with 1,509 MW offline, despite not coinciding with peak demand.
Currently, the system is only capable of generating 2,080 MW, while demand stands at 3,100 MW, resulting in an existing shortfall of 1,054 MW. The UNE anticipates that by midday, the deficit will remain at 950 MW.
The situation is exacerbated by the malfunctioning of Unit 2 at the Felton Thermoelectric Plant and maintenance work on Unit 8 at the Mariel Plant, Unit 2 at Santa Cruz, Unit 4 at Cienfuegos, and Unit 5 at Renté. Additionally, there are thermal limitations with 426 MW offline, and fuel shortages have caused 74 distributed generation plants to be down, accounting for 517 MW. Moreover, five engines at the Melones barge are offline, contributing another 85 MW, and five engines at the Regla barge add 40 MW to the outages, totaling 642 MW affected by these issues.
During the evening peak hours, the Cuban electrical company forecasts a generation capacity of 2,305 MW against an estimated demand of 3,580 MW. This scenario is likely to create a deficit of 1,275 MW, with potential disruptions reaching up to 1,345 MW, similar to the levels observed in recent days.
Solar energy, generated by the country's 19 photovoltaic parks, reached 1,703 MWh, with a maximum output of 401 MW recorded at midday, according to the UNE report.
The dire energy situation keeps the population on edge as they endure prolonged daily outages amidst the sweltering summer and ongoing national economic crisis. Meanwhile, millions of Cubans struggle to find rest during these blackouts, and the state-controlled media offers "advice" to combat insomnia. The publication "Venceremos" suggested that residents drink herbal infusions, warm milk with honey, read books, or practice deep breathing exercises before bed. They also recommended nighttime walks, hot baths, and relaxation techniques to help achieve a restful sleep during nights like July 11 in Cuba.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
Why is Cuba experiencing power outages?
Cuba is facing power outages due to a significant shortfall in electricity generation compared to the national demand, caused by malfunctioning equipment, maintenance issues, thermal limitations, and fuel shortages.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the energy shortfall?
The Cuban government is scheduling planned electricity cuts and conducting maintenance work on various power plant units to address the shortfall. However, issues persist due to ongoing equipment malfunctions and fuel shortages.
How are Cubans coping with the power outages?
Cubans are facing difficult conditions as they endure lengthy power outages in the heat of summer. State media suggests coping strategies like herbal teas, relaxation techniques, and nighttime walks, although these provide little relief for the broader crisis.