The grim reality of up to seven thermoelectric units being out of service due to breakdowns predicts a Saturday filled with power outages in Cuba. Engineer Lázaro Guerra Hernández has warned that these interruptions will be more severe in the central and eastern regions of the country, as most of the malfunctioning units serve these areas.
Currently, the affected units include unit 2 of the Santa Cruz Thermoelectric Plant (CTE), unit 4 of the Cienfuegos CTE, unit 5 of the Nuevitas CTE, units 1 and 2 of the Felton CTE, and units 5 and 6 of the Renté CTE.
Yesterday, the electrical service was disrupted starting at 8:31 a.m. due to a shortfall in generation capacity. The peak outage recorded was 610 MW at 8:50 p.m., coinciding with the peak consumption period. Later, at 11:21 p.m., unit 1 of the Felton Thermoelectric Plant went offline due to an automatic issue, causing disruptions throughout the night.
As of 7:00 a.m. today, the National Electric System (SEN) had an available capacity of 2,050 MW against a demand of 2,330 MW, resulting in a 350 MW deficit. It is estimated that by noon, the deficit could increase to 650 MW. Limitations in thermal generation total 231 MW, while 68 distributed generation plants are out of service due to a lack of fuel, adding another 361 MW to the affected capacity.
For today’s peak hour, the unit 8 of the Mariel CTE is expected to come online, contributing 70 MW, along with unit 5 of the Renté CTE with 50 MW, and the recovery of 60 MW currently offline due to fuel shortages. This would bring an estimated available capacity of 2,230 MW against a projected maximum demand of 3,000 MW, resulting in a 770 MW deficit. If these conditions persist, outages could reach up to 840 MW during peak hours.
As usual, dozens of Cubans have expressed outrage at the pathetic situation, questioning the effectiveness of the scheduled maintenance that promised a summer free of blackouts, except for occasional breakdowns.
Understanding Cuba's Power Outages
Given the ongoing issues with thermoelectric plants in Cuba, many people have questions about the causes and potential solutions to these frequent power outages. Here are some commonly asked questions and their answers:
Why are multiple thermoelectric units in Cuba out of service?
Several thermoelectric units are out of service due to various technical breakdowns and maintenance issues. These problems have been exacerbated by a lack of proper upkeep and necessary resources.
Which regions in Cuba are most affected by the power outages?
The central and eastern regions of Cuba are the most affected by these power outages, as the majority of the malfunctioning units service these areas.
What is the current power deficit in Cuba?
As of now, the power deficit in Cuba is approximately 350 MW, but it is expected to increase to 650 MW by noon and could reach up to 840 MW during peak hours.