Amid a wave of power outages sweeping through Cuba, the country's leader Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged on May 11, in an interview with Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet published this Wednesday in Granma, that the island is "in an extremely complex energy situation."
According to Díaz-Canel, under his administration, the failures in "electric generation are due to a lack of fuel, a lack of maintenance, or the coincidence of both factors." Ultimately, he blamed the outages on "technological problems" and the organization of "maintenance strategies" aimed at minimizing disruptions during the summer. However, the situation has worsened because "several plants that had planned and scheduled maintenance are currently undergoing it, but simultaneously, others have broken down," he explained.
"For more than five days, we haven't been able to stabilize the national electro-energy system for a full twenty-four hours, which means we've had some level of blackout at all times. This ongoing situation undoubtedly complicates matters, causes discomfort, misunderstandings, and makes life harder for Cubans," said the successor of Raúl Castro.
Among the reasons for the country's "unstable electro-energy system" that causes "severe outages," Díaz-Canel cited the system's composition. It includes thermoelectric plants that operate using national thermal energy, which requires heavy crude oil containing sulfur and thus constant repairs. "More than 300 million dollars a year are needed to maintain this national electro-energy system, and that availability hasn't existed. This leads to breakdowns and technological problems more frequently than should be normal in a system like this," he added.
He emphasized another group of energy sources, which are distributed generation engines primarily used during peak hours that require diesel and fuel oil. "We haven't always had the diesel and fuel oil levels we need," he said, referring to the government's liquidity issues that cause the outages.
Predictably, Díaz-Canel attributed this energy precarity to the "blockade" (embargo) that prevented diesel and fuel oil from reaching the island between October and April. "We exhausted the country's reserves because we also have a savings program. This led to severe outages, especially in March, due to a lack of fuel. Additionally, these generator groups also need spare parts and maintenance, which are affected," he noted.
Lastly, he mentioned "a small component with alternative sources," referring to the use of solar panels.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
To provide further clarity on the energy issues facing Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Why is Cuba experiencing frequent power outages?
Cuba is facing power outages due to technological problems, lack of maintenance, and fuel shortages. These issues are exacerbated by the economic embargo and the government's liquidity problems.
What are the main sources of energy in Cuba?
Cuba's primary energy sources are thermoelectric plants using heavy crude oil, distributed generation engines requiring diesel and fuel oil, and a small component of alternative sources like solar panels.
How is the embargo affecting Cuba's energy situation?
The embargo has prevented the import of essential fuels like diesel and fuel oil, leading to the depletion of reserves and increased power outages. It also affects access to spare parts and maintenance for energy infrastructure.