This Sunday, the National Electric System (SEN) in Cuba faces a complex panorama, after interruptions in service were recorded yesterday due to a deficit in generation capacity. The situation returned to normal in the early morning, specifically at 12:28 a.m., after a day marked by outages that lasted throughout the day.
The difficulties in electricity generation reached their critical point at the time of maximum demand, at 7:20 p.m., when the SEN reported an impact of 1,054 MW. Additionally, in the province of Guantánamo, 11 MW remain out of service due to damage caused by the passage of a recent hurricane.
For this morning, the SEN had an availability of 2,100 MW, in contrast to a demand of 2,000 MW, which has made it possible to avoid interruptions in service during the first hours of the day. However, it is anticipated that during mid-day hours there will be an impact of approximately 400 MW due to the same deficit.
Current generation problems include breakdowns in unit 3 of the Santa Cruz Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE), unit 3 of the Cienfuegos CTE and unit 2 of the Felton CTE. For its part, unit 2 of the CTE Santa Cruz and unit 5 of the CTE Renté are in the process of maintenance. Added to these limitations are 62 distributed generation plants that are not operational due to lack of fuel, representing a total of 335 MW out of service. Altogether, the restrictions on thermal generation amount to 526 MW.
For tonight’s peak hours, the SEN anticipates that 50 MW can be recovered in the currently inactive Distributed Generation plants, in addition to the restart of unit 3 of the CTE Santa Cruz with another 50 MW. However, it is estimated that total availability will reach 2,220 MW compared to a demand of 3,000 MW, thus projecting a deficit of 800 MW and a possible impact of up to 870 MW if current conditions persist.
This balance highlights the complexities that the SEN faces to stabilize generation and satisfy demand throughout the country.
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**Interview with José Luis Gómez, Energy Analyst in Cuba**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, José. We’ve seen significant disruptions in Cuba’s National Electric System over the weekend due to deficits in generation capacity. Can you explain what might have led to these service interruptions?
**José Luis Gómez:** Thank you for having me. The current situation can largely be attributed to an aging infrastructure and insufficient investment in both maintenance and new generation capacity. The demand for electricity has risen, especially during peak times, and the system has not been able to keep up. We experienced critical issues at the evening peak time of 7:20 p.m. when the system was overwhelmed.
**Editor:** You mentioned the aging infrastructure. How does this impact the daily operations of the electric system?
**José Luis Gómez:** An aging infrastructure means more frequent breakdowns and inefficiencies. Many of the power plants are old and in need of repairs or upgrades. When these plants can’t operate at full capacity, it creates a domino effect—service interruptions become more common, especially under high demand.
**Editor:** The recent outages lasted throughout the day before the system normalized around midnight. How does the government typically respond to such incidents?
**José Luis Gómez:** Typically, the government informs the public about the current status and causes of the outages. They may also implement emergency measures to redistribute available power to critical sectors, but these solutions often don’t fully address the systemic issues. Public dissatisfaction tends to grow during these outages, as electricity is essential for daily life.
**Editor:** With the power sector facing these challenges, what are some potential long-term solutions that could help improve the situation?
**José Luis Gómez:** There are several approaches. Investment in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, could diversify and strengthen our energy mix. Additionally, prioritizing infrastructure upgrades and regular maintenance of existing plants is crucial. It’s also important for the government to engage in dialogue with citizens to address their concerns and share realistic timelines for improvements.
**Editor:** Thank you, José. It seems clear that addressing these energy challenges will take concerted efforts and time. We appreciate your insights.
**José Luis Gómez:** Thank you for having me. I hope for a brighter future for Cuba’s energy sector.
E situation normalized early this morning. What specific factors contributed to the prolonged duration of these outages?
**José Luis Gómez:** Several factors came into play. For one, there were simultaneous breakdowns in multiple key facilities, including the Santa Cruz and Cienfuegos Thermoelectric Power Plants. Additionally, the recent hurricane in Guantánamo has left some generating units out of service. The confluence of these issues, combined with a high demand for electricity, made it difficult for the National Electric System to respond quickly and effectively to restore service.
**Editor:** Looking ahead, what measures can be implemented to prevent similar disruptions in the future?
**José Luis Gómez:** Long-term solutions need to focus on investing in infrastructure and expanding generation capacity, particularly renewable sources. Immediate actions could include better maintenance of existing plants to reduce downtime and possibly securing fuel for distributed generation plants that are currently inactive. It’s also crucial for the government to prioritize energy efficiency initiatives to help reduce overall demand during peak times.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, José. It’s evident that addressing these issues will require both strategic planning and immediate action to ensure a more stable energy future for Cuba.