Cuba faces an ongoing energy crisis as blackouts worsen. The Electric Union reported a significant electricity deficit, with peak demand outstripping generation capacity. Damage from Hurricane Rafael, breakdowns of essential power units, and fuel shortages compound the challenges. Measures taken by the Cuban government to mitigate this situation so far have shown limited success, resulting in heightened dissatisfaction among citizens.
Cuba is still experiencing severe energy issues as blackouts persist across the island. The Electric Union (UNE) reported that electricity generation capacity was at 1,610 MW this past Friday morning, falling short against a demand of 2,000 MW, resulting in a deficit of 456 MW. This paints a pretty bleak picture for residents as nearly 1,455 MW is expected to be absent during the peak hours when demand is forecasted to peak at 3,100 MW.
Compounding the problem, 8 MW remain offline in Artemisa, thanks to damage from Hurricane Rafael. This situation highlights the serious challenges that both the populace and productive sectors face with ongoing outages. Only yesterday, the electricity shortfall led to power interruptions from early morning until the next day, with an alarming peak deficit reaching 1,466 MW at 6:10 PM.
Generation capabilities are declining mainly due to breakdowns in critical units. For example, problems have been noted with Unit 5 at the Mariel power plant and Units 3 and 6 at Renté. Further complicating matters, several plants, including the Santa Cruz facility, are also undergoing maintenance, leaving less fuel available for generation.
Distributed generation has its own hurdles, with about 30 plants currently out of commission due to fuel shortages, which affects a staggering 334 MW of capacity. While there’s some hope that CDE Moa’s expected entry with 135 MW might help, the overall crisis lingers, as thermal capacity remains limited and unit breakage continues to occur repeatedly.
Adding to the complex picture, factors like extreme weather and longstanding structural issues keep Cubans worrying about when the lights will shine bright again. As of now, blackouts form an unfortunate part of everyday life for millions of citizens, and the horizon seems hazy.
On a slightly more positive note, the UNE also alerted earlier that the Lidio Ramón Pérez Thermoelectric Power Plant, commonly called Felton, resumed operations and contributed to the National Electric System with 220 MW starting on December 6th. This bit of news comes as a silver lining amidst the ongoing energy turmoil.
As blacks out frequency increases, many Cuban residents are left wondering about the future. They ask tough questions regarding the energy crisis: What’s the current status? Well, things aren’t looking great. Blackouts regularly disrupt daily life, making it hard for people to go about their routines. Food waste and damaged appliances add to the economic woes, while the general atmosphere feels strained due to the lack of actionable solutions.
There are various causes behind this energy deficit, from malfunctioning generation units to serious maintenance issues, not to mention the critical shortage of fuel. Natural disasters, like Hurricane Rafael, have further fleshed out the challenges.
The government has attempted to control the situation, including the phased reintegration of some generating units and issuing Decree 110 to manage power outages. However, these strategies haven’t yielded the results people desperately hope for, leading to significant public dissatisfaction.
In summary, Cuba’s energy crisis remains critical, with severe ongoing blackouts affecting citizens and industry alike. The reported deficits are substantial, while infrastructural issues compound the situation. Government measures to address these problems, including the recent reactivation of the Felton plant, have yet to make a noticeable impact, leaving a population grappling with the frustration and uncertainty of power outages in their daily lives.
Original Source: en.cibercuba.com
