The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) announced today that the island experienced power outages totaling 1,341 MW this Sunday, a figure higher than their estimates and surpassing the 1,325 MW recorded on Saturday night. Although the situation is expected to improve slightly on Monday, the forecast for the last day of September still predicts blackouts above 1,100 MW, largely due to fuel shortages, with UNE reporting only three thermoelectric units out of service due to breakdowns.
On September 29, power outages affected service for the entire day, continuing throughout the night. The peak outage reached 1,341 MW at 8:20 p.m., coinciding with the peak demand period, exceeding the estimated 1,278 MW. As of 7:00 a.m. today, the National Electric System (SEN) had a capacity of 1,890 MW, with a demand of 2,610 MW, resulting in a shortage of 740 MW.
The midday forecast for Monday predicts a high outage of 950 MW. Despite the challenging situation, UNE reports only three thermoelectric units out of service due to breakdowns and one under maintenance. The units offline due to issues are Mariel's unit 6, Felton's unit 2, and Renté's unit 5. The unit under maintenance is Santa Cruz's unit 2.
Significant Generation Limitations
The limitations in thermal generation amount to 512 MW, a considerable figure. Additionally, 47 distributed generation plants are offline due to fuel shortages, along with the Santiago de Cuba power barge, engines on the Melones power barge, and the Regla power barge, totaling 594 MW—305 MW from distributed groups and 289 MW from the barges.
For the peak period, it is estimated that 100 MW will be recovered from distributed generation engines currently offline due to fuel shortages, the entry of 10 engines on the Melones barge generating 160 MW, the Regla barge with 45 MW, and Mariel's unit 6 with 65 MW. These additions slightly improve the forecast for today, with an expected peak availability of 2,260 MW and a maximum demand of 3,300 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,040 MW.
Public Outrage and Social Media Backlash
If conditions remain as predicted, a peak period outage of 1,110 MW is anticipated, slightly less than yesterday's forecast but still extremely high. This grim outlook has sparked hundreds of comments on the UNE's Facebook page, where many Cubans vent their frustration over the recurring blackouts, which have become a major daily challenge amid numerous other struggles.
Comments such as "Oil is the foundation of everything," "Those who run the country should be ashamed," and "Just shut everything down; it's better than this constant desperation" reflect the public's growing discontent. Others lament, "Life goes on, if you can call it living," and "They are destroying people's mental health." One citizen succinctly concluded, "Hand over the country; you can't handle it," echoing a sentiment that has become increasingly common in recent years, highlighting the government's failure under Díaz-Canel to address the escalating crisis.