Just when it seems like the power outages in Cuba might ease up, the numbers and forecasts surge once again. "They're like the dollar, up and down," quipped an internet user recently.
The constant shuffle of thermal power plant units going in and out of service continues to leave Cubans feeling frustrated and disillusioned.
The latest report from Cuba's Unión Eléctrica (UNE), the state entity, revealed a 953 MW deficit this Wednesday and predicts a 885 MW shortfall for this Thursday. These figures are nearing the 1,000 MW mark, far from the 462 MW forecasted on Tuesday.
This Wednesday, service interruptions due to capacity deficits began at 6:12 a.m. and couldn't be restored by early this morning. The maximum impact reached 953 MW at 8:40 p.m., a time the UNE labeled as "coinciding with peak hours."
As of 7:00 a.m., the National Electric System (SEN) had an availability of 2,175 MW against a demand of 2,475 MW, with 322 MW affected due to generation capacity deficits. The forecast for daytime outages on June 6 is 550 MW.
Power Plant Issues and Maintenance
Three units from different thermal power plants are currently out of service: Unit 8 of CTE Mariel, Unit 6 of CTE Nuevitas, and Unit 2 of CTE Felton. Additionally, three units are undergoing maintenance: Unit 1 of CTE Santa Cruz, Unit 5 of CTE Nuevitas, and Unit 5 of CTE Renté. Limitations in thermal generation account for 361 MW.
Furthermore, 58 distributed generation plants are out of service due to fuel shortages, totaling 377 MW affected. For peak times, the return of 80 MW from distributed generation engines currently offline due to fuel and the re-entry of Unit 8 of CTE Mariel with 80 MW are expected.
With these projections, peak hour availability is estimated at 2,335 MW against a maximum demand of 3,150 MW, resulting in a deficit of 815 MW. If conditions persist, a 885 MW impact is forecasted during these peak hours. The never-ending story continues.
Understanding Cuba's Power Outage Crisis
To provide further insights on Cuba's ongoing power issues, we've compiled some frequently asked questions and their answers.
What is causing the frequent power outages in Cuba?
The frequent power outages are primarily due to deficits in generation capacity, maintenance issues, and fuel shortages affecting distributed generation plants.
How is the National Electric System (SEN) coping with the demand?
The SEN is struggling to meet the demand, with availability often falling short of the required capacity, leading to widespread outages.
Which power plants are currently facing issues?
Currently, Unit 8 of CTE Mariel, Unit 6 of CTE Nuevitas, and Unit 2 of CTE Felton are out of service, while several others are undergoing maintenance.