On Wednesday, Cuba experienced an unprecedented level of power outages, marking a new historical record. The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) forecasted a power shortfall of 2,380 MW during peak evening hours.
This reported deficit is equivalent to leaving 74% of the island without electricity at the time of highest demand, based on data processed by EFE.
This represents the most significant disruption since energy statistics began being published in 2022, surpassing the previous record set on July 8, when the shortfall reached 2,341 MW, affecting nearly 73% of the country. Another high was approached on July 23 with a deficit of 2,315 MW.
Record-Setting Power Deficit
The UNE's report details that the expected power generation availability for peak hours is merely 850 MW against a maximum demand of 3,200 MW. The previous day had already been devastating: the largest actual shortfall was 2,228 MW at 10:20 PM, impacting all provinces across the nation.
The immediate cause of this new record is the simultaneous outage of several key thermoelectric units.
Key Thermoelectric Units Down
Félix Estrada Rodríguez, director of the National Load Dispatch, explained on Canal Caribe that the situation worsened due to the failure of three critical blocks: Unit 1 of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant (Matanzas, ~200 MW), Unit 3 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes thermoelectric plant (Cienfuegos, ~158 MW), and Unit 6 of the Máximo Gómez thermoelectric plant (Mariel, ~90 MW), the latter being taken down by a lightning storm on Tuesday.
Regarding the Mariel unit, Estrada Rodríguez noted that "there was an issue with the turbine, and we need to wait for the machine to cool down, which takes about three to four days, to identify the malfunction and restore the unit to the system."
Widespread Maintenance and Fuel Shortages
The Unit 2 of the Lidio Ramón Pérez thermoelectric plant (Felton) and Unit 3 of the Antonio Maceo thermoelectric plant (Renté) are also experiencing malfunctions, while three other units remain under maintenance. Additionally, 106 distributed generation plants are out of service due to fuel shortages.
The only slight relief comes from the 54 photovoltaic solar parks, which on Tuesday generated 4,927 MW/hour with a peak output of 766 MW. An estimated 700 to 750 MW of solar contribution is expected on Wednesday during daylight hours, a figure insufficient to offset the nighttime deficit.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the massive power outages in Cuba?
The power outages are primarily caused by the simultaneous failure of several key thermoelectric units, compounded by maintenance issues and fuel shortages affecting distributed generation plants.
How does the power deficit impact the population?
The power deficit leaves approximately 74% of the island without electricity during peak demand periods, severely impacting daily life and economic activities.
What measures are being taken to address the power shortfall?
Efforts include repairing malfunctioning units, waiting for the cooling of affected turbines to diagnose issues, and utilizing photovoltaic solar parks to provide partial relief.