The energy forecast in Cuba has worsened this Monday following the shutdown of Unit 6 at the Diez de Octubre Thermoelectric Plant in Nuevitas, Camagüey. This development was announced by the state-owned Unión Eléctrica (UNE).
UNE shared on Facebook that at 3:20 PM, the unit was taken offline due to a feed water pump failure. However, they did not specify how long it will take to bring it back into operation.
This unforeseen incident adds to the shutdown of Unit 5 at the same plant on Sunday. These issues, combined with other breakdowns, have pushed the National Electric System (SEN) to the brink of collapse.
The breakdown occurs amid a technical collapse of the SEN, which has been experiencing deficits exceeding 1,800 megawatts (MW) for 15 consecutive days and is now entering its third week of a severe energy crisis.
According to the official report, last Sunday saw continuous service disruptions, with a peak impact of 1,950 MW at 6:20 PM.
As of 6:00 AM on Monday, SEN's availability was 1,420 MW against a demand of 2,350 MW, leaving large areas of the country facing extended blackouts from early morning.
The UNE anticipated an impact of 1,100 MW by midday, and during the evening peak, an availability of just 1,445 MW against an estimated demand of 3,400 MW, resulting in a deficit surpassing 1,950 MW.
In reality, more than half of the country will once again be without power tonight, a situation exacerbated by the unforeseen shutdown of Unit 6 at the Diez de Octubre plant.
The system was already operating with three thermoelectric plants out of service due to breakdowns—Unit 5 at the Máximo Gómez plant (Mariel), Unit 5 at the Nuevitas plant, and Unit 2 at the Felton plant—while four other units remain offline for scheduled maintenance.
Since December 1, the SEN has been in a state of "permanent technical red," with daily blackouts lasting up to 20 hours in the eastern and central provinces of the country. Meanwhile, the government has not provided any immediate prospects for improvement.
With Unit 6 in Nuevitas offline, the national electricity deficit deepens, solidifying the daily impact threshold of 2,000 MW as the new norm for the Cuban blackout.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
Why are there frequent power outages in Cuba?
Frequent power outages in Cuba are primarily due to technical failures and maintenance issues within the National Electric System, compounded by a lack of resources and government mismanagement.
How long are the power outages expected to last?
The duration of power outages is uncertain as the government has not provided a timeline for resolution. Currently, blackouts can last up to 20 hours daily in some regions.