The ongoing widespread power outages in Cuba continue to exacerbate the frustration of its citizens. This Saturday, residents are bracing themselves for more disruptions due to the incomplete restoration of the national electric grid. The situation remains dire following the aftermath of Hurricane Rafael and the recent total collapse of the system.
State-affiliated journalist José Miguel Solís shared on social media the critical state of the island's power generation. "Today, Saturday, the national grid is facing a deficit of around 752 MW during peak demand hours," Solís reported on Facebook, citing statements from Lázaro Guerra Hernández, the technical director of Cuba's Electric Union (UNE).
Guerra Hernández noted some progress in recovery efforts. They successfully interconnected the Mariel substation, enabling the startup of the floating power plant and the initiation of unit six at the Máximo Gómez thermoelectric plant in Mariel. Additionally, unit one of the Santa Cruz del Norte thermoelectric plant was synchronized, and unit four of the Cienfuegos plant was also brought online.
Power Availability and Demand
For today, the availability is estimated at 1,918 MW during peak hours, with a peak demand of 2,600 MW, resulting in a 752 MW shortfall," Solís quoted the UNE director in his post. This forecast starkly contrasts with previous estimates, as both peak demand and deficit figures differ significantly from recent trends.
The reasons behind such a noticeably different forecast by the state company remain unclear. Previously, demand had consistently exceeded 3,000 MW, with shortages surpassing 1,400 MW.
Challenges in Havana and Beyond
Finally, the UNE director mentioned the possibility of connecting Pinar del Río to the national grid, asserting that the system was "operating stably." "The damage to the distribution network in Artemisa is significant, as is the situation in Havana. The capital is currently at 48% electricity coverage, while Mayabeque stands at 49%," Solís highlighted in his post.