The National Electric System (SEN) of Cuba remains in a dire state as the Electric Union (UNE) announced on Monday that the country will endure widespread power outages throughout the day. The energy generation shortfall has surpassed 1,600 megawatts (MW), leading to this critical situation.
According to the official report, on Sunday evening, the highest level of disruption reached 1,700 MW at 7:00 p.m., a peak demand period that left thousands of Cubans without electricity. On Monday, November 24, at 6:00 a.m., the SEN's available power was a mere 1,510 MW against a demand of 2,400 MW, resulting in a 900 MW shortfall right from the start of the day. The UNE anticipates outages of up to 950 MW during peak consumption hours, with the nighttime deficit potentially hitting 1,625 MW.
The state-run company acknowledged that Unit 2 of Felton Thermoelectric Plant and Unit 6 of Renté are out of service due to malfunctions. Additionally, three other units—2 of Santa Cruz, 4 of Cienfuegos, and 6 of Mariel—are undergoing scheduled maintenance. These limitations in thermal generation contribute to a reduction of 584 MW.
Adding to the crisis is a fuel shortage, which has left 97 distributed generation systems inactive, equating to a loss of 802 MW. Coupled with 66 MW offline due to a lack of lubricants, this leads to a total of 868 MW unavailable.
Despite the UNE highlighting the contribution of 32 new photovoltaic solar parks, which generated 2,970 MWh with a peak output of 533 MW, these efforts fall short of addressing the systemic deficit.
The organization expects to partially recover capacity at night with the reactivation of Energás Varadero's Unit 1 (30 MW), Energás Jaruco's Unit 3 (30 MW), and the completion of Energás Jaruco's combined cycle (25 MW). However, even with these additions, total generation will only reach 1,595 MW compared to an expected demand of 3,150 MW.
This ongoing energy crisis, which the regime blames on breakdowns and fuel shortages, continues to severely affect the Cuban populace. Residents have endured prolonged blackouts, water scarcity, and a decline in essential services amid a profound economic and social crisis.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is the main cause of Cuba's power outages?
Cuba's power outages are primarily caused by a significant energy generation deficit, exacerbated by equipment breakdowns and fuel shortages.
How is Cuba addressing the energy shortfall?
Cuba is attempting to address the shortfall by incorporating new photovoltaic solar parks and reactivating some energy units, although these measures are insufficient to meet demand.
What impact does the energy crisis have on the Cuban population?
The energy crisis leads to prolonged blackouts, water shortages, and a deterioration of basic services, significantly affecting the quality of life for Cubans.