The National Electric System (SEN) has announced that Cuba will experience significant power outages today, with a shortfall approaching 1,000 MW, which represents about one-third of the national demand. In a statement posted on Facebook, the entity indicated that during peak hours, the available capacity is estimated to be 2,275 MW, while the projected maximum demand is 3,200 MW.
This results in a deficit of 925 MW, and if conditions remain unchanged, a shortfall of 995 MW is anticipated during this critical period. This figure is slightly lower than Monday's outages, which reached 1,081 MW throughout the day, a deficit recorded at 9:30 PM, outside peak hours, and higher than initially predicted.
Causes of the Power Deficit
The Empresa Eléctrica attributed Monday's deficit to a lack of fuel in the engines at the Melones Barge and a demand that exceeded projections. Early today, the SEN's available capacity was 2,100 MW against a demand of 2,550 MW, resulting in an immediate deficit of 450 MW.
Units Out of Service
The SEN reported that the generation capacity crisis is due to several units being out of service, including unit 6 of the Nuevitas Thermoelectric Plant (CTE Nuevitas), unit 2 of the Felton Thermoelectric Plant (CTE Felton), and unit 5 of the Renté Thermoelectric Plant (CTE Renté). Additionally, unit 2 of the Santa Cruz Thermoelectric Plant (CTE Santa Cruz) is undergoing maintenance. Thermal generation limitations have reached 498 MW.
Impact on Distributed Generation
Furthermore, 43 distributed generation plants are offline due to fuel shortages, adding 281 MW to the total shortfall. Despite assurances from the Utility Electric Company (UNE) that it continues to monitor the situation to lessen the impact on consumers, the Cuban population remains dissatisfied, facing almost 12 hours of daily blackouts.