The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) announced on Sunday a severe shortfall in power generation, predicting an impact exceeding 1,400 MW during the nationwide evening peak hours. This comes after a night marked by continuous blackouts and an unfavorable power generation scenario throughout the morning.
At 7:00 AM, the available power was 1,650 MW, while the demand soared to 2,450 MW, resulting in a shortfall of 890 MW. By noon, the deficit is expected to reach approximately 1,100 MW, particularly affecting the central-eastern region due to its high demand.
Looking towards Sunday night, available power is projected to be 1,800 MW against a demand of 3,150 MW, potentially leading to a deficit of 1,350 MW. This forecast suggests a power shortage of up to 1,420 MW during peak hours, with the central-eastern area bearing the brunt.
Compounding Challenges and Unmet Expectations
This emergency situation mirrors that of Saturday, when the maximum deficit reached 1,575 MW at 7:30 PM. This shortfall was exacerbated by delays in fuel deliveries in Moa and the failure to activate unit 3 of the Santa Cruz thermoelectric plant. Additionally, Hurricane Oscar caused further disruptions, leading to a 4 MW loss in Guantánamo.
Numerous units remain out of service due to breakdowns, including unit 5 of the Mariel plant, unit 3 of Santa Cruz, and others across Cienfuegos, Nuevitas, and Felton. Meanwhile, units under maintenance include unit 2 of Santa Cruz, unit 3 of Cienfuegos, unit 1 of Felton, and unit 5 of Renté, contributing to a thermal limitation of 314 MW.
Distributed Generation and Fuel Shortages
The situation is further aggravated by issues in distributed generation, with 78 power plants offline due to fuel shortages, accounting for 350 MW of unavailable capacity. Additionally, five engines on the Santiago de Cuba floating power plant, which provide 77 MW, are also currently out of service.
This scenario highlights the dire state of the island's electrical system, as it grapples with increasing challenges to meet the growing demand.