Cuba’s Energy Crisis Deepens as Blackouts Persist and Solutions Remain Elusive

Cuba faces a dire energy crisis as the Electric Union reports ongoing blackouts and critical generation deficits. The current output is falling short of demand, compounded by infrastructure failures and fuel shortages. While the return of the Lidio Ramón Pérez power plant offers little respite, the situation remains severe, impacting daily life for millions. Efforts to regulate outages are proving insufficient, leaving many concerned about the future.

The energy crisis in Cuba appears to be worsening, with the Electric Union (UNE) reporting critical generation shortfalls. On Friday morning, the UNE stated that the electricity capacity stood at just 1,610 megawatts (MW) while demand hit around 2,000 MW, reflecting a significant deficit of 456 MW. This stark situation continues to jeopardize both everyday life and local industries on the island.

Peak hours are particularly troubling, with expectations of a much larger gap between generation and demand. During these times, the UNE forecasts a capacity of 1,745 MW against an estimated demand of 3,100 MW, leading to an alarming deficiency of 1,355 MW and an expected impact on supply reaching up to 1,425 MW. Further complications arise as about 8 MW remain offline due to damages caused by Hurricane Rafael, compounding the island’s longstanding issues with blackouts.

The extent of the problems became evident yesterday when outages began at 5:34 a.m. and continued until after midnight, peaking at an impact of 1,466 MW around 6:10 p.m. The technical issues stem from breakdowns in critical generation units, including those at the Mariel and Renté power plants. Moreover, several facilities are undergoing maintenance, limiting available power to meet rising demands.

Distributed generation efforts have also faced obstacles, with 30 plants currently out of service due to fuel shortages, representing an aggregate setback of approximately 334 MW. While the integration of the CDE Moa with 135 MW is anticipated during peak hours, the reality remains that Cuba’s energy crisis shows scant signs of improvement, as breakdowns and a lack of thermal capacity continue to plague the system.

Despite these challenges, there was a slight ray of hope early Friday. The UNE announced that the Lidio Ramón Pérez Thermoelectric Power Plant, colloquially known as Felton, had resumed operations and is contributing 220 MW back to the National Electric System. The news was shared via their official social media account just before 7 AM on December 6th, offering a glimmer of optimism amid the gloom.

Public concern is mounting, with many questions surrounding the ongoing blackout situation. The frequent outages indicate an urgent need for solutions, as the government grapples with limited resources to address the problem. Breakdown in electrical generation units, maintenance issues, and severe fuel shortages have all contributed to the current state of emergency.

The impact of these blackouts on ordinary Cubans cannot be understated. Daily routines are heavily disrupted, leading to potential economic losses due to wasted food and damaged appliances. Additionally, the persistent uncertainty surrounding the energy situation continues to foster a general atmosphere of unrest and discontent among the populace, intensifying criticism of government efforts to manage the crisis.

In response to these pressing issues, the Cuban authorities have implemented a number of measures. This includes the reintegration of some power-generating units and a new decree regulating planned outages. Nevertheless, many Cubans feel these actions have fallen short of addressing the root causes of the energy deficit, leaving the public anxious about an uncertain future.

In conclusion, Cuba’s energy crisis continues to pose serious challenges, with the Electric Union reporting significant deficits and ongoing blackouts. Despite minor improvements with the reactivation of certain power plants, the overall situation remains troubling. Frequent outages disrupt daily life and contribute to growing dissatisfaction among citizens. As the government attempts to address the myriad issues, including infrastructural damage and fuel shortages, the urgency for actionable solutions has never been more critical.

Original Source: en.cibercuba.com