On Tuesday, March 25, Cuba is once again grappling with widespread power outages due to the dire state of the National Electric System (SEN), which is plagued by breakdowns, maintenance issues, and a lack of fuel. The Electric Union (UNE) has issued a warning about a severe shortfall during peak hours, with a gap of over 1,300 MW between demand and available capacity.
The disruptions began on Monday at 4:51 a.m. and persisted throughout the day and into the early hours of today. The most significant outage on Monday occurred at 8:20 p.m., with 1,454 MW out of service, coinciding with peak demand. According to the UNE, the impact exceeded expectations due to the failure of unit 6 at the Renté Power Plant to come online.
Tuesday's situation shows no signs of improvement. By 7:00 a.m., the SEN's availability was 1,840 MW, compared to a demand of 2,540 MW, resulting in a 737 MW deficit and causing significant disruptions to the electrical service. It was anticipated that by midday, the shortfall could increase to 900 MW.
Power Plant Challenges and Maintenance
The power plants continue to face challenges. Unit 6 at the Nuevitas Power Plant and unit 2 at the Felton Power Plant remain out of commission. Additionally, five other units are undergoing maintenance: unit 8 at Mariel, unit 2 at Santa Cruz, units 3 and 4 at Cienfuegos, and unit 5 at Renté. Thermal generation is also limited by 377 MW, while 82 distributed generation plants are offline due to fuel shortages, resulting in an additional loss of 472 MW.
Despite plans to bring unit 6 at Nuevitas online with 100 MW for peak hours, the outlook remains grim. It is estimated that there will be an availability of 1,940 MW against a maximum demand of 3,260 MW, creating a deficit of 1,320 MW. The UNE predicts that if conditions persist, the outage could reach 1,390 MW tonight.
Efforts to Mitigate the Crisis
Amidst this critical situation, the UNE highlighted that the new photovoltaic solar parks — located at the Nursing School (Havana), Alcalde Mayor (Cienfuegos), and La Sabana (Granma) — collectively generated 334 MWh the previous day, which is 64 MWh more than anticipated.
Rotating Blackouts in Havana
The Havana Electric Company has announced a schedule for rotating blackouts on Tuesday due to the widespread SEN shortfall. The outage blocks are as follows:
- Block #1: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Block #2: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Block #4: 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Block #3: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Authorities are urging residents to stay informed through their official accounts on Telegram, Facebook, and X, as well as the direct line 18888.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
The power outages in Cuba are primarily due to breakdowns, maintenance issues, and a lack of fuel affecting the National Electric System (SEN).
How is the Electric Union (UNE) addressing the power deficit?
The UNE is attempting to manage the deficit by bringing additional units online and utilizing solar energy from new photovoltaic parks, though challenges persist.
What are the scheduled blackout times in Havana?
The scheduled blackout times in Havana are divided into four blocks throughout the day, ranging from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.