The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) has announced that the National Electric System (SEN) is grappling with severe challenges in maintaining a steady power supply. On Wednesday, the electricity service was disrupted for the entire day, with the generation deficit peaking at 1,735 MW by 6:20 PM, aligning with the period of highest demand. This figure nearly matched the record deficit of 1,750 MW reported earlier in November.
Cuban officials attribute the worsening crisis to the aftermath of Hurricane Rafael and numerous breakdowns at power plants. In Artemisa, an additional 40 MW are offline due to these issues. By 7:00 AM on Thursday, SEN's availability stood at 1,540 MW, whereas demand soared to 2,320 MW, resulting in a generation shortfall of 820 MW.
Severe Impact of Blackouts on Cuban Life
The energy deficit is taking a heavy toll on daily life across the island. It is estimated that during today's peak hours, available power will barely reach 1,675 MW against a demand of 3,100 MW. This is projected to cause a shortfall of 1,495 MW tonight, which might even worsen.
Five power plants are currently out of commission due to technical failures, including unit 5 of the Mariel Thermoelectric Plant, a unit at the Matanzas Thermoelectric Plant, and two units at the Renté Thermoelectric Plant. Several units at other plants are undergoing maintenance. Compounding the issue is the unavailability of 45 distributed generation stations and difficulties with floating power barges in Santiago de Cuba and Melones, contributing to a total of 348 MW affected by fuel shortages.
Efforts to Address the Power Crisis
To alleviate the crisis during peak hours, plans are underway to bring unit 6 of the Renté Thermoelectric Plant back online, adding 45 MW, alongside engines on the floating barges in Santiago de Cuba and Melones, which would contribute an additional 90 MW. However, these measures will only partially address the projected deficit.
UNE has stated it is actively working on repairing the broken units and restoring areas impacted by the hurricane. Yet, the Cuban public's response on social media reflects a growing skepticism. Meanwhile, prolonged blackouts continue to disrupt the lives of thousands of families across the island.