On Monday, Cuba's Electric Company (UNE) announced that the nation will continue to experience widespread power outages. This follows a peak shortfall of 1,698 MW recorded at 8:50 PM on Sunday, a figure surpassing the planned outages due to increased demand, according to the state-run entity.
The National Electric System (SEN) began the day with a mere 1,940 MW available against a demand of 3,160 MW, resulting in a shortfall of 1,250 MW from the early morning hours. By midday, the UNE expected the deficit to persist at similar levels without significant changes.
Power Plant Failures Exacerbate Crisis
The official report states that the system is severely constrained by failures at several thermoelectric plants. Units including Mariel's Unit 5, Nuevitas' Unit 5, Renté's Units 3 and 6, and Felton's Unit 2 remain offline. Additionally, scheduled maintenance at other facilities—like Santa Cruz's Unit 2 and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes' Unit 4 in Cienfuegos—compounds the issue, alongside 280 MW restricted due to thermal limitations.
Fuel Shortages Deepen the Energy Crisis
The situation is further aggravated by fuel shortages. As a result, 68 distributed generation plants, with a combined capacity of 395 MW, are currently out of service, leaving the SEN even more vulnerable.
The UNE has indicated that for Monday's peak hours, there is potential to bring online 100 MW from distributed generation engines, which are currently halted due to lack of fuel, along with Nuevitas' Unit 5, which is in the process of starting up with 60 MW. With these additions, the expected maximum availability could reach 2,100 MW, facing a demand of 3,800 MW. This would lead to a shortage of 1,700 MW, translating to estimated outages of up to 1,770 MW nationwide.
Amidst this severe energy crisis, the worst in decades, Cubans are enduring yet another day of extended power cuts, oppressive heat, and mounting discontent with the government's management.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
The power outages in Cuba are primarily caused by increased demand, failures at multiple thermoelectric plants, and ongoing fuel shortages affecting distributed generation.
How significant is the current power deficit in Cuba?
The current power deficit in Cuba is significant, with shortfalls reaching up to 1,700 MW, leading to widespread outages across the country.
What measures are being taken to address the power crisis?
Efforts to address the crisis include attempts to restart certain units and incorporate distributed generation engines, though these are limited by fuel constraints.