August has started with grim news for Cubans, as power outages continue to plague the nation with significant intensity. According to the Unión Eléctrica de Cuba (UNE)National Electric System (SEN) has struggled to meet the energy demand.
Yesterday, the electrical service was compromised due to a generation capacity deficit from 6:49 AM. The maximum outage recorded was 758 MW at 10:10 PM, coinciding with peak demand.
As of 7:00 AM on Thursday, SEN's availability stands at 2350 MW, while demand reaches 2500 MW, resulting in 91 MW affected in the system. By midday, the maximum impact is estimated to be 450 MW.
The situation is exacerbated by the breakdown of several units, including Unit 1 of CTE Santa Cruz, Unit 5 of CTE Nuevitas, Unit 2 of CTE Felton, and Units 3 and 6 of CTE Renté, leading to a 428 MW reduction in thermal generation capacity.
Additionally, 54 distributed generation plants are out of service due to fuel shortages, contributing to a total of 352 MW affected. For peak demand, the entry of Unit 1 of CTE Santa Cruz with 70 MW and Units 3 and 6 of CTE Renté with 70 MW and 60 MW respectively is anticipated.
UNE forecasts that by peak hours, availability will be 2555 MW against a maximum demand of 3200 MW, resulting in a deficit of 645 MW. Consequently, a 715 MW impact is expected during this period.
The Cuban government had announced in June that outages would increase due to heightened maintenance activities at various Thermoelectric Plants (CTE) to avoid summer blackouts. However, like many other promises, this one was not fulfilled. In July and August, the government blames fuel shortages and extreme heat for the increased demand and subsequent rise in outages.
This situation underscores the ongoing energy crisis on the island, affecting citizens daily and posing serious challenges for managing the electric supply in the coming months.
Key Questions about Cuba's Energy Crisis
Given the ongoing energy challenges in Cuba, here are some key questions and answers that might help you better understand the situation.
What is causing the current power outages in Cuba?
The power outages are primarily due to a combination of breakdowns in multiple thermal generation units and fuel shortages affecting distributed generation plants.
How much power is the National Electric System (SEN) able to provide?
As of the latest report, SEN can provide 2350 MW, which falls short of the 2500 MW demand, leading to significant power outages.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the energy crisis?
The government had announced increased maintenance activities at various thermoelectric plants to prevent summer blackouts, although these measures have largely failed to alleviate the crisis.