Cuba experienced power outages that exceeded planned levels on Wednesday due to "unexpected shutdowns" of two turbines, according to authorities.
The General Director of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Lázaro Guerra Hernández, stated on television that power outages began in the morning on Wednesday, and during peak hours, the impact was 832 MW, higher than the 550 MW that had been scheduled. According to the official, this occurred due to an issue at the Energás company, where two turbines went offline.
"A gas turbine and a steam turbine stopped working" at 9:00 pm, he noted. For Thursday, the Electric Union forecasts an impact of 500 MW out of a maximum demand of 3,150 MW, indicating that one-sixth of the country will be without electricity service amid the intense summer heat on the island.
Although the regime had promised to reduce power outages during the vacation months and the hotter parts of the year, it stated at the end of July that a lack of diesel fuel and a couple of "unexpected" breakdowns were preventing the stability of the electricity service.
Understanding Cuba's Power Outages
Here are some frequently asked questions about the recent power outages in Cuba and their implications.
What caused the unexpected power outages in Cuba?
The unexpected power outages were caused by the sudden shutdown of a gas turbine and a steam turbine at the Energás company.
How much power was Cuba supposed to lose versus what actually happened?
Cuba was scheduled to lose 550 MW of power, but the actual loss was 832 MW during peak hours.
What is the forecasted power impact for Thursday?
The Electric Union forecasts a power impact of 500 MW out of a maximum demand of 3,150 MW for Thursday.
Why is Cuba experiencing these power outages?
Cuba is experiencing power outages due to a lack of diesel fuel and unexpected breakdowns in the electricity infrastructure.