The Cuban government boasted about the supposed stability of the National Electric System (SEN) by declaring that when the New Year arrived, "everyone had power."
This statement was made by pro-government journalist Esther Lilian González during a report from Cuba's Ministry of Energy and Mines. She claimed that December 31 was a "good day for the Electrical Union (UNE)" because the system "closed its loads at 8:30 PM. That means at 12:00 AM, when January 1 arrived, everyone in Cuba had electricity."
Nonetheless, this alleged success was short-lived. Just a few hours later, the country was once again plagued by extensive blackouts.
Continued System Breakdown
The technical report from the Electrical Union confirms that the situation with the SEN remains dire. At 6:00 AM this Thursday, the available power was only 1,500 MW against a demand of 1,360 MW, with no outages at that moment. However, new disruptions of up to 150 MW were expected throughout the day.
The report explains that several units are out of service, including unit 5 of the Mariel Thermoelectric Plant (CTE), unit 2 of the Felton CTE, and unit 3 of the Céspedes CTE. Additionally, units like the 2 of the Santa Cruz CTE and 4 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes CTE (Cienfuegos) are undergoing scheduled maintenance. In total, 687 MW are offline due to technical limitations in thermal generation.
Fuel shortages are compounding these issues. There are 66 distributed generation plants not operating, resulting in a 700 MW loss. Furthermore, the deficit includes 35 MW from the Melones Power Barge, 40 MW from the Regla Power Barge, and 142 MW due to a lack of lubricant, leading to a total shortfall of 917 MW for lack of fuel.
Bleak Outlook for Peak Hours
The forecast for peak hours on January 1 is grim. Despite the potential activation of unit 3 of the Céspedes CTE with 120 MW, total availability is expected to be 1,620 MW against a maximum demand of 2,950 MW. If current conditions persist, an impact of up to 1,360 MW is anticipated during the nighttime hours.
While the government attempts to project optimism with triumphant rhetoric, the country's energy reality remains deeply entrenched in a structural crisis, characterized by technological decay, poor state management, and a lack of sustained investment. For millions of Cubans, the new year has begun once again amid blackouts, heat, and uncertainty.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What caused the power outages in Cuba on January 1?
Despite initial claims of stability, Cuba faced extensive power outages due to a combination of technical limitations in thermal generation and fuel shortages.
How much power was unavailable in Cuba's energy system?
A total of 687 MW were unavailable due to technical issues, and an additional 917 MW were lost due to fuel shortages, leading to significant power deficits.
What is the Cuban government's response to the energy crisis?
The government has attempted to project an optimistic outlook despite ongoing issues, using triumphant rhetoric to mask the structural crisis affecting the energy sector.