Throughout Saturday, Cuba faced intensified power outages, with disruptions lasting from 5:18 a.m. until well past 1:00 a.m. the following Sunday, according to the latest report from the National Electric System (SEN).
The Cuban regime attributed the crisis to the unexpected shutdown of several thermoelectric units. Interestingly, this spike coincides with the arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, who has been the island's primary supplier of subsidized fuel.
Lázaro Guerra, the general director of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, commented, “The impact was greater than anticipated because we expected the unit 3 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes thermoelectric plant in Cienfuegos to come online, but it was not possible during peak demand hours."
According to the official report from the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the peak shortfall in generation capacity reached 1,966 megawatts at 6:20 p.m., marking one of the highest deficits in recent days.
The energy production from the 34 new photovoltaic solar parks amounted to 2,643 MWh, with a maximum power output of 535 MW, which is insufficient to cover the growing system deficit.
Severe System Failures
By 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, SEN's availability was just 1,495 MW against a demand of 1,650 MW. The technical report outlines that 150 MW were already affected early due to the deficit, with a projected impact of up to 850 MW during midday hours.
Key incidents include breakdowns in units 5 of the Mariel Thermoelectric Plant (CTE), units 1 and 2 of the Felton CTE, and unit 5 of the Diez de Octubre CTE, alongside maintenance work on unit 2 of the Santa Cruz CTE and unit 4 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes CTE in Cienfuegos.
The report also indicates that 972 MW are offline due to a lack of fuel and lubricant, including 93 distributed generation plants, the Melones barge (35 MW), and 142 MW unavailable due to lubricant shortages.
During peak hours on Sunday, a deficit of 1,645 MW is expected, with maximum demand estimated at 3,200 MW and availability at just 1,555 MW. If these conditions persist, a general impact of 1,675 MW is anticipated, forecasting further blackouts across the country.
A Complex Political and Energy Scenario
The increase in blackouts comes right after the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas by U.S. forces, an event threatening the Venezuelan oil supply to Cuba.
Meanwhile, the regime continues to attribute the causes to "technical failures," avoiding any mention of the loss of logistical and financial support from its main ally.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What caused the recent surge in power outages in Cuba?
The surge in power outages was officially attributed to unexpected shutdowns of several thermoelectric units. However, it coincided with the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, Cuba's main supplier of subsidized fuel.
How is the Cuban government explaining the power outages?
The Cuban government is citing "technical failures" as the reason behind the power outages, not acknowledging the political factors such as the arrest of Nicolás Maduro.
What impact does Venezuela's oil supply have on Cuba's energy situation?
Venezuela's oil supply is crucial for Cuba, providing subsidized fuel that supports the island's energy needs. The arrest of Nicolás Maduro poses a significant risk to this supply chain.