The Unión Eléctrica (UNE) of Cuba forecasts power outages this Wednesday, predicting an impact of 250 MW at midday and 570 MW during peak hours.
Yesterday, the day began without service and power was not restored until 7:40 am. Less than an hour later, outages resumed at 8:37 am and continued throughout the day, finally restoring at 1:09 am this morning. The maximum impact was 698 MW at 8:30 pm, coinciding with peak hours.
According to the UNE report, this Wednesday, the availability of the National Electric System (SEN) at 7:00 am indicated the entire system was in service. At midday, an impact of 250 MW is estimated. For peak hours, an availability of 2650 MW and a maximum demand of 3150 MW are expected, resulting in a deficit of 500 MW. Thus, an impact of 570 MW is forecast.
Currently, two units at the CTE Rente and Felton plants are out of service due to breakdowns. In addition, 32 distributed generation plants (242 MW affected) are offline due to fuel shortages, and limitations in thermal generation account for 587 MW.
Amid an unending energy crisis, Cuba is witnessing distressing scenes, such as a family in Bayamo, including a young child, sleeping outdoors in a desperate attempt to escape the suffocating heat. Isis Ro shared images on Facebook showing a woman and a small girl forced to sleep in what appears to be an outdoor patio or roof of a house.
Last week, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de La O Levy, admitted that the government's strategy to prevent summer blackouts had failed. According to the minister, despite planned maintenance during the first half of the year, there were "significant issues with fuel supply," leading to prolonged outages, some lasting "up to 12 hours in certain areas."
Frequently Asked Questions About Cuba's Power Outages
In light of the ongoing power outages in Cuba, many people have questions about the causes and impact of these disruptions. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
The power outages are primarily due to breakdowns in key power plants, fuel shortages, and limitations in thermal generation capacity.
How long are the power outages expected to last?
Outages can last several hours, with some areas experiencing blackouts for up to 12 hours.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the power outages?
The government has conducted planned maintenance and is attempting to address fuel supply issues, but these efforts have not been sufficient to prevent the outages.