SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, Mexico.- After having predicted one of the highest energy deficits in recent weeks, the Electric Union (UNE) reported on Thursday afternoon that the situation has worsened and there are currently more than 1,500 MW missing throughout the country.
“Tonight, the country reports damages exceeding 1,500 MW according to calculations based on Telegram reports from provincial electricity companies, 1,505 reported by the Mayabeque channel,” reported official journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso from his Facebook profile, accompanying his post with a screenshot of the information provided by the Mayabeque Electric Company through its Telegram channel.
Previously, he had announced that the SEN had an impact of 1,457 MW, at the beginning of the hour of greatest demand for electricity in Cuba.
For the nighttime peak hour of September 19, UNE estimated an availability of 1,960 megawatts (MW) and a maximum demand of 3,250 MW, for a deficit of 1,290 MW, so that, if the expected conditions are maintained, there would be an energy deficit of 1,360 MW during this time, which has already been exceeded.
The Cuban government acknowledged on Wednesday that it failed to stabilize the electrical system during the months of July and August, as it had promised, while the island continues to suffer long daily blackouts.
Two new thermoelectric plants that went out of service on Thursday have further aggravated the existing energy crisis in Cuba, prompting the regime’s authorities to take “severe measures,” including “continuous power outages of up to nine hours, compared to three hours with electricity.”
This was reported by the state Caribbean Channelwhile in Camagüey the independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada reported On Wednesday night, there was a blackout of up to 15 consecutive hours in that province.
On the island, unit 8 of the Mariel Thermoelectric Plant is out of service due to breakdowns; unit 1 in Santa Cruz del Norte; unit 4 in Cienfuegos; units 5 and 6 in Nuevitas; unit 2 in Felton and units 5 and 6 in Renté. That is, two more than the previous day and eight in total.
Cynically, during the inauguration of the III Renewable Energy Fair In Havana, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero said that despite not achieving the desired stability, “major damage was avoided” and there was progress in the “maintenance” and “recovery” of thermoelectric plants. Progress that is not perceived by Cubans who face blackouts lasting several hours.
For its part, Vicente De la O Levy, The Minister of Energy and Mines, tried to calm the growing indignation of the population over the energy situation. He spoke of “financial sacrifices” to guarantee the arrival of fuel to the generating units in the coming days and promised that before the end of the year the first 400 megawatts from new solar parks will be installed.
