La Unión Eléctrica (UNE) has announced that power outages are expected in several regions of Cuba this Monday due to a significant deficit in electricity generation capacity.
At 07:00 hours, the availability of the National Electric System (SEN) was at 2,376 MW, facing a demand of 2,260 MW, with the maximum outage reaching 150 MW at noon. As is often the case, the situation is complicated with several generating units out of service due to breakdowns. These include unit 5 of Mariel, unit 1 of the CTE Santa Cruz, unit 2 of the CTE Felton, and units 3 and 5 of Renté.
Additionally, 30 distributed generation plants are affected by a lack of fuel, resulting in an additional loss of 253 MW, according to a report by the UNE published by the officialist site Cubadebate.
By peak hours today, the operation of some engines from the patana of Santiago and unit 3 of the CTE Renté is expected to add a total of 165 MW to the grid. Nonetheless, the UNE forecasts a deficit of 459 MW, which could lead to power outages of up to 529 MW during this period.
This scenario of prolonged interruptions highlights the fragility of Cuba's electrical system, exacerbated by inadequate maintenance and fuel shortages. These factors will continue to impact daily life under the regime's ongoing failures.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
To provide more insight into the ongoing power crisis in Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Why is there a significant electricity generation deficit in Cuba?
The electricity generation deficit in Cuba is due to several breakdowns in major generating units and a lack of fuel affecting distributed generation plants.
Which generating units are currently out of service?
Units currently out of service include unit 5 of Mariel, unit 1 of the CTE Santa Cruz, unit 2 of the CTE Felton, and units 3 and 5 of Renté.
What is the expected impact of the power outages?
The expected impact includes power outages of up to 529 MW during peak hours due to the projected deficit of 459 MW.