Lázaro Guerra Hernández, technical director of the Unión Eléctrica (UNE), announced that the synchronization of several power generation units throughout this week will mitigate the severe impact of blackouts in Cuba, which were expected to reach nearly 1,500 MW by Tuesday.
Key Power Units to Join the Grid
"We had explained on Sunday that this week is crucial because we have a group of significant units being incorporated into the system. We believe that as these units are integrated throughout the week, the condition will improve, leading to a better availability of thermal generation, which is the base generation of the system," Guerra Hernández told Cuban Television.
"This will undoubtedly allow us to reduce service disruptions," he added.
The official specified that the first unit to resume operation will be unit number 6 of the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant, which was previously out of service due to a fault. This will be followed by unit number 1 of Felton, with a capacity of over 200 MW, and then the combined cycle of Energás Varadero, providing around 90 MW.
Subsequently, unit number 3 of Santa Cruz del Norte (80 to 85 megawatts) and, by the end of the week, unit number five of Mariel (65 MW) are expected to be incorporated.
"In total, we will be adding between 500 and 550 megawatts of power," Guerra assured.
Public Advised to Stay Informed
Journalist Bernardo Espinosa advised the public to stay informed through the established channels of the Unión Eléctrica in each territory to understand the designed outage schedules, although he admitted that the blackouts have exceeded expectations.
"Yes, when the disruptions are severe, it complicates the circuit situation significantly because it depends a lot on the system's availability at any given moment. Right now, we have a level of unavailability due to fuel that improves throughout the day, but it is not yet at an optimal level," Guerra explained.
"The variability in the availability of generation over time will result in the magnitude of service disruptions, and based on that, we distribute the impact across the territories. However, with these values, rotating the circuits across territories becomes complex," he concluded.
The Unión Eléctrica (UNE) of Cuba issued a discouraging report on Tuesday, warning of peak-hour blackouts that could reach as high as 1,440 MW, a figure that does not significantly improve during daylight hours, with expected disruptions around 950 MW.
Understanding Cuba's Power Generation Challenges
In light of the current power generation issues in Cuba, here are some common questions and answers that might help clarify the situation.
What are the main reasons for the frequent blackouts in Cuba?
The frequent blackouts in Cuba are primarily due to the aging infrastructure, lack of maintenance, and fuel shortages, which significantly impact the availability and reliability of power generation units.
How will the incorporation of new power units help reduce blackouts?
The introduction of new power units will increase the overall capacity and availability of the power grid, thereby reducing the frequency and duration of blackouts as more reliable generation sources are added.
What steps can the public take to stay informed about scheduled outages?
The public is encouraged to stay updated through the official communication channels of the Unión Eléctrica in each territory, which provide information on the planned outage schedules and any changes that may occur.