As the year draws to a close, Cubans are facing a bleak situation with severe power outages expected daily. This crisis stems from a combination of energy production deficits, breakdowns in power plants, and a shortage of fuel. For Saturday, authorities have announced that electricity will be cut off throughout the day, with a peak disruption anticipated to reach 1,165 MW.
On Friday, the electricity service was disrupted from 4:58 a.m. to 11:50 p.m., hitting a maximum outage of 1,281 MW at 6:10 p.m. The problems resumed early this morning at 4:51 a.m. The outages are predominantly affecting the central-eastern region due to high energy transfers directed to that area.
According to the Electric Union's (UNE) report, as of 7:00 a.m., the national electrical system's availability stood at 1,753 MW, while the demand was 2,050 MW, resulting in 555 MW being affected. By noon, this figure is expected to rise to 900 MW, and during peak hours, it will escalate to 1,165 MW.
Two units at the Felton and Renté thermoelectric plants remain out of service. Additionally, four units at the Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Renté power plants are undergoing maintenance. Due to a fuel shortage, 71 power stations, the Moa plant, and six engines on the Melones barge are offline, contributing to a total of 640 MW of affected capacity.
Thermal generation limitations currently account for 339 MW of the deficit.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
Cuba is experiencing power outages due to energy production deficits, plant breakdowns, and a shortage of fuel.
Which regions in Cuba are most affected by the power cuts?
The central-eastern region of Cuba is predominantly affected by the power cuts due to high energy transfers to that area.
How severe are the power outages expected to be?
The outages are expected to be severe, with peak disruptions reaching up to 1,165 MW.