On Wednesday, Cuba experienced a widespread power outage affecting the western region from Pinar del Río to Cienfuegos. This news was shared on social media by state journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso.
The cause of the electrical system disconnection is currently under investigation by Unión Eléctrica. The exact time of the incident remains unknown.
In the latest update provided at 7:00 PM Cuban time, the state utility company reported that the national electrical system had a capacity of 1,389 megawatts (MW) to meet a demand of 3,329 MW, resulting in a shortfall of 1,972 MW.
Alfredo López Valdés, head of the company, noted that on Tuesday, the unit 6 of the Diez de Octubre thermoelectric plant in Nuevitas and unit 3 of the Antonio Maceo (Rente) plant had been synchronized at 3:45 PM and 5:07 PM, respectively.
Recent Trends and Challenges
There has been an increasing frequency of power outages across Cuba in recent days. On Monday, the national electrical system faced a generation deficit exceeding 2,000 MW. The power service was disrupted throughout the day, with the peak shortfall reaching 2,105 MW at 7:00 PM.
The previous day, Unión Eléctrica reported faults in unit 2 of Felton and unit 3 of Renté, which was later synchronized around 5:00 PM, as per the official update.
Maintenance and Distributed Generation Issues
On Tuesday, maintenance work was reported on units 5 in Mariel, 2 in Santa Cruz, 4 in Cienfuegos, and at the Energás Puerto Escondido gas treatment plant.
Distributed generation faced significant challenges with 102 power plants offline, totaling 914 MW due to fuel shortages, and an additional 72 MW unavailable due to lubricant scarcity.
In Havana, the Electric Company has been informing residents of daily disruptions, forcing changes to the planned schedule due to the low system availability.
National Blackouts Highlight Infrastructure Fragility
In mid-September, Cuba experienced its fifth national blackout in less than a year, underscoring the fragile state of the national electrical system and the regime’s inability to resolve a crisis impacting millions of lives daily.
Just days earlier, a massive failure of the electrical system had caused a major blackout in Eastern Cuba, affecting several provinces and causing additional issues in the West, particularly impacting unit 6 of the Mariel thermoelectric plant when the 220 kV Nuevitas-Tunas line tripped, disconnecting the system entirely from Las Tunas to Guantánamo.
Understanding Cuba's Electrical Challenges
What caused the recent power outage in Western Cuba?
The recent power outage in Western Cuba was caused by a disconnection in the electrical system. The exact reasons are still under investigation by Unión Eléctrica.
How severe is the current power deficit in Cuba?
Cuba is currently facing a significant power deficit, with a shortfall of 1,972 MW reported recently. This is part of a broader trend of increasing power outages across the country.
What are the main challenges facing Cuba's electrical system?
Cuba's electrical system is dealing with multiple challenges, including aging infrastructure, maintenance issues, fuel shortages, and a lack of available capacity to meet demand.