The Electrical Union (UNE) of Cuba has announced that power outages will continue this Sunday, despite a slightly lower generation deficit compared to recent days. However, the deficit is not the lowest experienced this week.
On Saturday, the power supply was disrupted due to a generation shortfall of 1,476 MW, slightly less than the projected 1,490 MW. For Sunday, it is estimated that during peak hours, the shortage will reach 1,203 MW.
Service disruptions commenced at 5:10 am on the previous day and persisted until 11:20 pm. However, issues resumed at 6:18 am this morning due to high energy transfers to the central-eastern region. By 7:23 am, additional disruptions began due to the ongoing deficit.
According to the UNE's report, as of 7:00 am, there were 330 MW affected by the generation shortfall. By midday, the impact is expected to rise to 700 MW, with the central-eastern region experiencing the most significant effects due to substantial energy transfers.
Three units at the Felton and Renté thermal power plants are currently out of service. Additionally, five blocks from the CTE Mariel, Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Renté remain under maintenance.
Due to fuel shortages, 86 distributed generation plants and the CDE Mariel are offline, and unit 1 of the Felton thermal plant is operating at limited capacity to align with its next fuel supply. These issues contribute to a total of 703 MW affected, surpassing the 692 MW affected on Saturday. Thermal generation limitations are reported to be 257 MW.
Understanding Cuba's Electrical Crisis
Why is Cuba experiencing power outages?
Cuba is facing power outages mainly due to a deficit in power generation, exacerbated by equipment failures, maintenance issues, and fuel shortages.
What regions in Cuba are most affected by the power outages?
The central-eastern region of Cuba is currently experiencing the most significant impact from power outages due to high energy transfers to this area.
How does the lack of fuel affect Cuba's power generation?
Fuel shortages lead to the shutdown of distributed generation plants and limit the capacity of thermal power plants, thereby reducing the overall power supply in Cuba.
What is being done to address the power shortage in Cuba?
Efforts to address the power shortage include ongoing maintenance of power plants and managing fuel supplies to stabilize the situation, although challenges persist.