The lack of diesel fuel combined with a couple of “unexpected” breakdowns has doubled the expected power outages for this Thursday, reaching 1,041 MW during peak hours, according to Lázaro Guerra Hernández, General Director of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, in statements to Cuban television.
The outlook for Friday is not any better, with projected outages again surpassing 1,000 MW, as revealed by Guerra Hernández and the Union Eléctrica (UNE) of Cuba in their daily report.
Yesterday, the service was affected due to a generation capacity deficit in the National Electric System (SEN) from 5:25 a.m., continuing into the early hours of today. The maximum impact yesterday was 1,041 MW at 9:00 p.m., coinciding with peak hours, far exceeding the 510 MW planned due to the "unexpected outage of unit 5 at the Diez de Octubre Thermoelectric Plant."
This breakdown, along with “higher-than-expected demand and low fuel recovery in distributed generation,” has exacerbated the situation, according to UNE.
As of 7:00 a.m. today, SEN's availability was 2,300 MW, while demand stood at 2,440 MW, with 153 MW affected. A maximum impact of 550 MW is forecast for midday.
Several units are currently out of service due to breakdowns, including unit 4 of Energas Varadero, unit 5 of the CTE Diez de Octubre, unit 6 of the CTE Rente, and unit 2 of the CTE Felton. Unit 1 of the CTE Santa Cruz is undergoing maintenance. Thermal generation limitations amount to 410 MW. Additionally, 58 distributed generation plants are offline due to fuel shortages, totaling 448 MW affected.
For peak hours, an availability of 2,300 MW and a maximum demand of 3,250 MW is estimated, resulting in a 950 MW deficit. If these conditions persist, a 1,020 MW impact is expected during this period.
Guerra Hernández described the current situation as “complex.” This Thursday, there was a breakdown in a line from Matanzas between the Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant and the Matanzas substation, which increased blackouts from Matanzas to the easternmost provinces.
Alongside the outage at the Diez de Octubre Thermoelectric Plant, the fuel shortage has been a significant issue, which Guerra Hernández admitted has “hit hard.”
"The fuel issue has hit hard because we had a large level of unavailability due to the Diesel fuel issue and distributed generation, which also increased the impact," the official admitted, predicting an improvement in about five days.
Recently, the Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, stated that with the completion of most scheduled maintenance, there was an improvement in the electric service in the country. However, he admitted that the demand cannot be fully met due to fuel shortages.
Understanding Cuba's Power Outages
In light of the ongoing power issues in Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers to help you understand the situation better.
What is causing the current power outages in Cuba?
The current power outages in Cuba are primarily caused by a lack of diesel fuel and unexpected breakdowns in the national electric system.
How long are these power outages expected to last?
Authorities predict an improvement in the situation within about five days, although this depends on various factors including fuel availability and repair progress.
Which areas in Cuba are most affected by the blackouts?
The blackouts are affecting areas from Matanzas to the easternmost provinces of Cuba.