Despite the entire nation of Cuba being plunged into darkness on Wednesday due to a disconnection of the National Electric System (SEN), power outages continue into Thursday as a result of a substantial generation shortfall of 1,475 MW. This unfortunate situation is far from unexpected for the Cuban populace.
The Electric Union (UNE) announced that electricity service was restored at 12:09 a.m. on Thursday. However, just over an hour later, at 1:44 a.m., the service faced disruptions again due to capacity deficits, except for 8 MW in the Artemisa province, impacted by Hurricane Rafael, and 10 MW in Contramaestre, Santiago de Cuba, due to a substation fault.
By 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, the SEN's availability stood at 1,450 MW while demand reached 1,900 MW, leading to 550 MW being affected by the generation deficit. The shortfall is expected to rise to 850 MW at midday and reach a peak of 1,475 MW during the evening.
As of this report, five blocks of the Mariel, Santa Cruz, Felton, and Renté thermoelectric plants are out of service. Additionally, maintenance work is ongoing on five units across four power stations. Compounding the issue, 33 distributed generation plants and a floating power station in Santiago de Cuba, accounting for 197 MW, remain offline due to fuel shortages.
Thermal generation limitations amount to 321 MW. The unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant triggered the third collapse of the SEN in Cuba within two months.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced on the morning of December 4th that efforts to restore service were underway through the "creation of islands," a method previously employed during the last two collapses.
This extensive blackout caused a domino effect, significantly impacting other essential services crucial for daily life. The interruption in electrical supply directly affected the pumping and distribution of potable water and the provision of gas necessary for cooking. Additionally, internet connectivity and mobile phone services were disrupted, hindering communication and access to information.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What caused the recent power outages in Cuba?
The recent power outages in Cuba were caused by a significant generation shortfall of 1,475 MW, exacerbated by the unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant and fuel shortages affecting various power stations.
How have the power outages affected daily life in Cuba?
The power outages have severely impacted daily life by disrupting the supply of potable water, cooking gas, internet connectivity, and mobile phone services, creating significant challenges for communication and access to information.
What measures are being taken to restore electricity in Cuba?
The Ministry of Energy and Mines is working on restoring electricity through the "creation of islands," a process intended to gradually reestablish power distribution across the affected areas.