The energy crisis in Cuba appears to worsen by the day, shattering government promises of a potential solution and leaving citizens in distress. In its daily update posted on social media, the Unión Eléctrica (UNE) forecasts a Tuesday with more than 1,000 MW of power outages during peak hours.
Peak Hour Power Struggles
Specifically, the peak hours from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. were the hardest hit on Monday, with 973 MW affected at 8:50 p.m. However, at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, the availability of the National Electroenergy System (SEN) was 2,170 MW, while the demand was 2,550 MW, resulting in 411 MW affected due to a generation capacity deficit. Midday estimates suggest a 550 MW impact.
Out of the system due to breakdowns are Unit 8 of the Mariel Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE Mariel), Unit 1 of the Santa Cruz Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE Santa Cruz), Unit 5 of the Nuevitas Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE Nuevitas), Unit 2 of the Felton Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE Felton), and Unit 5 of the Rente Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE Rente). Thermal generation limitations account for 449 MW. Due to a lack of fuel, 59 distributed generation plants are out of service, totaling 448 MW of affected capacity.
Given these conditions and the expectation that Unit 1 of CTE Santa Cruz will contribute a meager 70 MW during peak demand, UNE predicts a peak availability of 2,240 MW, which falls short of the maximum demand of 3,200 MW, resulting in a 960 MW deficit. If conditions persist, a 1,030 MW impact is anticipated during peak hours.
Public Discontent
While the government suppresses discontent, voices of frustration find an outlet in the comments section of UNE's post. "The top leadership of this country should resign; they've been in power for seven years without any progress. Don't cling to power. Go to a popular referendum and see if you'll stay. The people don't want you and didn't elect you. They weren't in elections, and the people didn't vote for them. Resign and let the people choose their leaders through popular vote," one user wrote.
"How much higher can it get? And how many hours will they affect where the rulers of Cuba live? It's an absolute crime against our poor people, and no one cares. The state does nothing, and the world looks the other way. Such evil and horror will have to be paid for," another user pointed out.
Regarding UNE's daily updates, one person remarked, "They should save themselves the trouble of publishing the same thing every day. They sound like a broken record. Don't even bother with the electricity if we have more time without it than with it. Save the daily spiel; you never favor the people."
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
To provide further clarity on the ongoing energy crisis in Cuba, we've compiled a set of frequently asked questions and their answers.
Why is Cuba experiencing severe power outages?
Cuba's severe power outages are primarily due to a combination of factors including aging infrastructure, frequent breakdowns, fuel shortages, and a lack of investment in the energy sector.
What are the peak hours for power demand in Cuba?
The peak hours for power demand in Cuba are from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., during which the energy consumption is at its highest.
How does the Cuban government address public discontent over power outages?
The Cuban government often suppresses public discontent, but citizens express their frustrations through social media and comments on official posts.
What is the forecasted power deficit during peak hours?
The forecasted power deficit during peak hours is 960 MW, leading to significant power outages.