Amidst a deepening energy crisis, Cuba's Electrical Union (UNE) has revealed that the nation will endure persistent power outages across all regions. According to the official report, the power service was disrupted throughout Tuesday due to a capacity shortfall, a situation that persisted into the early hours of today. At 7:10 pm, the peak outage reached 1,749 MW, coinciding with the period of highest consumption. This figure exceeded expectations due to higher-than-forecasted usage.
Today, Wednesday, March 5th, the generation capacity remains inadequate to meet demand, resulting in extended power service interruptions. At 7:00 am, the National Electric System (SEN) had only 1,315 MW available, while demand was at 2,380 MW, leading to a 1,099 MW deficit. By midday, outages are expected to climb to 1,450 MW.
The outlook for the evening peak is bleak: availability is projected at 1,624 MW against a demand of 3,280 MW, creating a shortfall of 1,656 MW with estimated outages of 1,726 MW nationwide. The energy shortfall stems from a combination of breakdowns in power plants, scheduled maintenance, and fuel shortages.
Currently, the Nuevitas CTE Unit 5 and Felton Unit 2 are out of service due to malfunctions. Meanwhile, maintenance work is underway at Mariel CTE Unit 6, Santa Cruz CTE Unit 2, Cienfuegos CTE Units 3 and 4, and Renté Unit 5. Additionally, the fuel shortage has halted 966 MW of generation as 85 distributed generation plants, Mariel's fuel plant (116 MW), Moa's fuel plant (147 MW), Regla's barge (54 MW), and eight engines on the Melones barge (135 MW) are offline.
By nightfall, there is hope to recover 120 MW from distributed generation engines, alongside the activation of eight engines on the Melones barge (135 MW) and the Regla barge, with 54 MW. Despite these efforts, the situation remains dire. The forecast of 1,726 MW out of service during peak hours, close to the 1,749 MW recorded the previous day, confirms the SEN is on the brink of collapse.
Scheduled Blackouts in Havana
Given this scenario, Havana's Electric Company has announced a schedule of rotating power cuts for the day. The outage times are as follows:
- 10:00 am to 3:00 pm: Blocks 1 and 2.
- 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm: Block 4.
- 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm: Block 3.
The energy situation in Cuba shows no signs of improvement. Despite announced investments in the electrical sector, thermoelectric plants remain in crisis, plagued by deteriorating infrastructure and a heavy reliance on fuel, whose scarcity exacerbates the crisis.
The UNE has warned that power outages will persist in the coming days, meaning that the population will continue to endure prolonged disruptions in electrical service, impacting daily life and the country's economic activities.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
The power outages in Cuba are due to a combination of breakdowns in power plants, scheduled maintenance, and fuel shortages.
How is the energy deficit affecting daily life in Cuba?
The energy deficit leads to prolonged power outages, which disrupt daily activities and economic operations across the country.
What measures are being taken to address the power shortages?
Efforts include recovering generation capacity from distributed engines and activating additional engines on barges, although these measures are insufficient to resolve the crisis fully.