Lack of fuel, breakdowns and shutdowns for maintenance will cause simultaneous blackouts in more than 40% of Cuba this Monday, according to estimates from the state company Electrical Union (UNE).
The serious electricity supply problems continue on the island, which since February has had deficit rates that reach between 20 and 45% of maximum demand, which is weighing down an economy already in crisis and fueling social unrest. .
Electrical outages of up to 16 hours a day have been announced in the provinces and in Havanawhich until now had been less affected, began daily rotating blackouts by districts last week.
This takes place after the Government adopted saving measures, such as turning off 74% of the country’s public lighting.
The UNE, dependent on the Ministry of Energy and Mines, calculates for the ‘peak’ time of this Monday, in the afternoon-night, a maximum electricity generation capacity of 1,975 megawatts (MW) and a maximum demand of 3,200 MW.
The deficit – the difference between supply and demand – will be 1,225 MW and the impact – the circuits that will be disconnected to avoid an uncontrolled blackout – will reach 1,295 MW.
The Cuban electrical system is in a very precarious situation, evident in the frequent breakdowns and stoppages for maintenance of its seven onshore power plants (Soviet-made), which are obsolete and in trouble due to chronic lack of investment.
The lack of foreign currency from the State has also limited the import of fuel, which affects national energy production.
The Cuban Government has rented up to seven floating power plants to the Turkish company in the last five years. Karpowership to alleviate the lack of generation capacity, a quick but temporary, polluting and expensive solution.
Blackouts have been one of the triggers for anti-government protests in recent years, including those on July 11, 2021, the largest in decades. EFE (I)
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