Unión Eléctrica (UNE) of Cuba announced power outages this Friday due to a nearly 800 MW deficit during peak hours, and a 350 MW deficit during what is termed as medium demand hours.
With the recent shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, along with five other blocks out of operation due to breakdowns, prolonged power outages are expected to continue in the coming days. On Thursday, the service was disrupted due to a generation capacity deficit from 7:13 pm and was not restored until 1:19 am. The maximum disruption reached 786 MW at 8:30 pm.
According to the report, during peak demand hours, an availability of 2292 MW is estimated against a maximum demand of 3000 MW, resulting in a 708 MW deficit, forecasting a 778 MW impact.
Six units from CTE Santa Cruz, Guiteras, Felton, and Rente are out of service due to breakdowns. Additionally, 51 distributed generation plants are not operating due to a lack of fuel, totaling 190 MW affected due to this issue.
As expected, this new shutdown of the Guiteras plant, just two months after its last synchronization, has further exacerbated the country's energy crisis.
The Matanzas plant, the largest in the country, encountered an "issue" with the so-called oil control unit, a set of equipment responsible for managing the flow, pressure, and temperature of the oil used in various processes, which may have crucial functions such as lubrication, cooling, and hydraulics.
Although experts initially predicted that the problem could be resolved within 24 hours, on Thursday Cuban authorities announced that seven days would be required to continue the repair work.
Matanzas journalist José Miguel Solís noted that "the issue with the regulation of the turbine valves could not be resolved at the moment" and that "the break is also necessary to do things right."
Understanding the Energy Crisis in Cuba
Here are some frequently asked questions about the current energy crisis in Cuba and the power outages announced.
Why are there power outages in Cuba?
Power outages in Cuba are primarily due to a significant deficit in generation capacity, exacerbated by the shutdown of major plants and a lack of fuel for distributed generation plants.
What is the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant?
The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant is the largest power plant in Cuba, located in Matanzas. It plays a crucial role in the country's energy supply.
How long will the repairs at the Guiteras plant take?
Initial estimates suggested that repairs could be completed within 24 hours, but Cuban authorities have since announced that seven days will be required to continue the repair work.