The electricity supply situation in Cuba remains critical on August 11, 2024, with forecasts of significant blackouts due to a deficit in generation capacity.
The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) has reported that service interruptions were experienced throughout the day yesterday, reaching a maximum impact of 985 MW at 9:00 pm, coinciding with peak hour.
This morning, at 7:00 am, the availability of the National Electric System (SEN) was 2,340 MW, while demand reached 2,400 MW, resulting in an impact of 100 MW. It is estimated that by noon, the impact could increase to 300 MW.
Currently, units 1, 2 and 3 of the CTE Santa Cruz, unit 4 of the CTE Cienfuegos, unit 5 of the CTE Nuevitas and unit 2 of the CTE Felton are out of service due to breakdowns. In addition, thermal generation limitations amount to 431 MW.
Added to this situation are 48 distributed generation plants that are out of service due to lack of fuel, which adds 300 MW more to the total impact.
For today’s peak hours, UNE expects the entry into operation of unit 3 of the CTE Santa Cruz with 60 MW, unit 5 of the CTE Nuevitas with 70 MW, and the recovery of 50 MW currently out of service due to lack of fuel.
580 MW deficit
Even with these reinforcements, the projected availability would be 2,520 MW compared to a maximum demand of 3,100 MW, which would result in a deficit of 580 MW. If these conditions continue, an impact of up to 650 MW is forecast during peak consumption hours.
CTE Felton unit 1 was able to return to service at 3:51 am today, which slightly eased the situation, but not enough to prevent the power outages affecting much of the country.
This situation continues to generate unrest among the population, who see how blackouts have become a constant, despite the efforts announced to avoid these interruptions during the summer.
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