The outlook for power outages in Cuba is deteriorating rapidly. Just yesterday, there were nine thermoelectric units offline due to breakdowns or maintenance. As of Sunday, that number has increased to ten. The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) has projected a disruption of 1,630 MW during peak demand hours today.
Yesterday, a shortage of capacity affected the power service for the entire 24 hours, continuing through the early hours of this morning. The situation was most critical at 6:40 p.m., when the deficit peaked at 1,642 MW, surpassing the planned 1,557 MW because the mobile engines in Regla and unit 6 of the Renté CTE failed to come online.
By 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, 800 MW were already impacted. It is anticipated that by midday, this figure will rise to 1,400 MW, with a significant impact in the central and eastern regions of the island. While five thermoelectric units were down the previous day, seven units are now out of service: unit 3 of the Santa Cruz CTE, units 5 and 6 of the Nuevitas CTE, units 1 and 2 of the Felton CTE, and units 3 and 6 of the Renté CTE.
The units under maintenance remain unchanged from the previous day: unit 2 of the Santa Cruz CTE, units 3 and 4 of the Cienfuegos CTE, and unit 5 of the Renté CTE. Thermal generation limitations account for 250 MW.
Additionally, 83 distributed generation plants are offline due to fuel shortages, along with 68 MW at the Mariel fuel plant for the same reason, resulting in a total of 520 MW affected. During peak hours, it is expected that units 5 and 6 of the Nuevitas CTE (120 MW), unit 6 of the Renté CTE (60 MW), and a recovery of 80 MW in distributed generation engines will come online.
According to the UNE report, availability is estimated at 1,590 MW, with a maximum demand of 3,150 MW, leading to a shortfall of 1,560 MW. If current conditions persist, a 1,630 MW impact is anticipated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Power Outages
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
The power outages in Cuba are primarily caused by the breakdown and maintenance of thermoelectric units, fuel shortages, and limitations in thermal generation capacity.
How many thermoelectric units are currently out of service in Cuba?
As of now, 11 thermoelectric units are out of service in Cuba due to various issues, including breakdowns and maintenance.
What are the projections for power availability and demand?
The Cuban Electric Union estimates an availability of 1,590 MW against a maximum demand of 3,150 MW, resulting in a predicted deficit of 1,560 MW.