The relentless power outages in Cuba show no signs of abating. The electricity deficit remains alarmingly high, with the Cuban Electric Union (UNE) projecting outages of approximately 1,520 MW during peak hours this Monday. On the previous day, the service disruption peaked at 1,397 MW at 6:20 p.m.
This morning at 7:00 a.m., the system's availability was 1,750 MW, while the demand had surged to 2,410 MW, resulting in a shortfall of 695 MW. It is anticipated that this shortfall will increase to 1,100 MW by noon.
Thermal Units Out of Service
Currently, a total of eight of the country's thermal units are offline due to breakdowns or maintenance. The units experiencing breakdowns include: Unit 3 at CTE Santa Cruz, Unit 6 at CTE Renté, and Units 1 and 2 at CTE Felton.
Lázaro Guerra, Director of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM), told Cuban television that Unit 3 at CTE Santa Cruz was reintegrated into the National Electric System (SEN) yesterday but subsequently went offline again. He did not provide an explanation for this recurrence.
Guerra also mentioned that Unit 6 at Renté is expected to return to service today, though not during peak demand hours. As for Felton 1, which has significantly contributed to the recent chaos, the issue remains undiagnosed. The duration of its outage will depend on the diagnostic findings.
Maintenance and Fuel Shortages
In addition to breakdowns, four other units are under maintenance: Unit 2 at CTE Santa Cruz, Units 3 and 4 at CTE Cienfuegos, and Unit 5 at CTE Renté. Due to thermal constraints, 293 MW are currently out of service. Furthermore, 55 distributed generation plants lack fuel, reducing capacity by another 330 MW. Nonetheless, an 80 MW recovery in distributed generation is expected soon due to fuel availability.
Peak Hour Forecast
According to forecasts, system availability is expected to reach 1,830 MW during peak hours, while maximum demand is anticipated to be 3,280 MW, leading to a potential deficit of 1,450 MW. Should these conditions persist, outages could reach 1,520 MW during peak times.
Scheduled Outages in Havana
Havana's Electric Company has informed its customers that, due to the generation deficit in the National Electric System, scheduled outages will occur today as follows:
- Blocks #1 and #2: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Block #4: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Block #3: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
An Unresolved Energy Crisis
Over recent years, the Cuban government has turned to temporary measures to alleviate its energy crisis, but these have failed to address the country's structural problems. They even leased up to eight floating power plants from a Turkish company—a quick but costly solution. However, five of these facilities departed last year, leaving the already fragile national electrical system even more vulnerable.
The outdated thermal plants, which have been running for decades without significant investment in maintenance, are consistently breaking down. Coupled with a shortage of fuel, these issues exacerbate the crisis. Experts estimate that modernizing the National Electric System would require an investment between 8 and 10 billion dollars—an expenditure beyond the reach of the Cuban government.
Understanding Cuba's Power Outages
What is causing the frequent power outages in Cuba?
The frequent power outages in Cuba are primarily caused by the breakdowns and maintenance needs of outdated thermal power plants, coupled with a significant fuel shortage and insufficient investment in the energy infrastructure.
How is the Cuban government addressing the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has resorted to temporary solutions such as leasing floating power plants from Turkey, but these measures have not resolved the underlying structural issues of the energy crisis.
What are the projected power deficits during peak hours?
During peak hours, the projected power deficit is expected to reach 1,450 MW, with the possibility of outages increasing to 1,520 MW if current conditions persist.