The Lidio Ramón Pérez (Felton) Power Plant Unit 1 has once again been disconnected from the national grid under "emergency conditions," merely hours after rejoining the National Electric System (SEN), according to an update released by the Union Eléctrica (UNE) at 12:02 PM on Wednesday.
This latest shutdown of the Felton plant occurs amid a highly fragile energy framework, characterized by persistent generation deficits and malfunctions that necessitate constant adjustments in power availability.
Earlier, the UNE had indicated that Felton 1 was "operational," yet its emergency disconnection places this critical power station at the heart of the energy instability that plagues the population with prolonged blackouts.
Coincidentally, this setback coincides with a widespread blackout affecting western Cuba, leaving provinces from Pinar del Río to Cienfuegos without electricity.
In its most recent update, the state-owned company reported SEN's availability at 1,389 MW against a demand of 3,329 MW, with an estimated 1,972 MW shortfall due to capacity deficits. This stark disparity highlights the severe imbalance between power generation and consumption.
The report also mentioned the recent synchronization of Unit 6 at Nuevitas (Diez de Octubre) and Unit 3 at Antonio Maceo (Renté). However, Felton's subsequent disconnection only exacerbates the tension within an already strained system.
Issues have been escalating over the previous days. On Monday, UNE's summary indicated nationwide disruptions throughout the day, peaking at 2,105 MW at 7:00 PM. Earlier failures were reported in Felton Unit 2 and Renté Unit 3, alongside several units undergoing maintenance and a severe impact from fuel shortages on distributed generation, leaving 914 MW out of service from 102 non-operational plants.
In Havana, the Electric Company has consistently warned of daily interruptions and scheduling changes due to low availability.
With Felton cycling in and out within mere hours, this episode once again underscores the complete instability of a system not only suffering from chronic deficits but also vulnerable to regional failures that can plunge multiple provinces into darkness, directly affecting households, hospitals, transportation, and the Cuban economy.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What caused the Felton power plant to disconnect again?
The Felton power plant was disconnected due to emergency conditions, which are indicative of ongoing technical problems and the fragility of Cuba's energy infrastructure.
How does the outage at Felton impact the national grid?
The outage at Felton exacerbates the energy deficit, leading to increased blackouts and further strain on an already overburdened national grid, affecting millions of Cubans.
What are the broader implications of Cuba's energy issues?
Cuba's energy problems have far-reaching effects, impacting daily life, economic productivity, healthcare services, and transportation, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructure improvements.