Havana/The Government of Cuba announced on Thursday the suspension of work and teaching activity for Friday and Saturday due to the deep energy crisis suffered by the country, which has been aggravated in recent days.
The Minister of Labor and Social Security, Marta Elena Feito Cabrera, wrote on social networks that this decision was made for “the energy situation” of the country and to “contribute to the necessary savings”, although he added that the “essential” activities were exempted.
“Taking into account the energy situation facing the country and with the aim of contributing to the necessary savings in the consumption of electricity to mit and labor that are not essential in current conditions, “he said.
The Cuban government did not clarify how this measure affects the 33rd edition of the International Book Fair of Havana, which theoretically starts this Friday in the capital and has 400 guests from 40 countries.
The official press reproduced statements by the Director General of Electricity of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Lázaro Guerra, in which it was assured that “tomorrow will also be complex”, although his department awaits “an improvement in the effects of the service” .
The Electric Union (UNE) had planned a deficit of 1810 megawatts (MW) for peak time, which were finally 1,656 MW at 6:30 in the afternoon, as the organism updated in networks the morning on Friday.
According to the note, the slight improvement was produced by a “greater availability of diesel fuel for distributed generation and demand below the forecast.”
Unit 3 of the thermoelectric of Santa Cruz del Norte joined the National Electrical System (SEN) and began the start of Unit 6 of Renté. In addition, Nuevitas units 5 and 6 must also start their start this Friday.
UNE also announced the implementation of the Pin Turks who remain in Havana, Matanzas and Santiago – only three of the eight that the country came to have – due to the availability of fuel. In the port of Havana there are at least three oil tankers and killings waiting for the arrival, on February 19, Del Russo Akademik Gubkinwhich started from UST-Luga with 100,000 tons of crude oil, according to Reuters.
In the port of Havana there are at least three oil tankers and killing awaits the arrival of Russian Akademik Gubkin, who left Ust-Luga with 100,000 tons of crude oil, according to Reuters
The last days, the blackouts are ravaging the island. Cities throughout the country are suffering electric cuts of more than 24 consecutive hours in the last two days and the lack of electricity lacks for more than 30 hours arrive from many provinces, among many provinces, between They Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus, Matanzas or Granma.
In addition, for the first time in Havana, suspensions of the service of at least six hours have been scheduled, forcing to close emblematic establishments in the capital, Like the Coppelia ice cream shop.
Cuba has been suffering from this energy crisis that has been aggravated since the last quarter of 2024, a period in which three national blackouts were recorded. Two of them were due to unforeseen events that, in a limit operational situation, collapsed the national electrical system (SEN).
The breakdowns in the obsolete thermoelectric central ones in the country, with decades of exploitation, a chronic investment deficit; and to the shortage of fuel, due to the lack of currency of the State to import it and the fall of the deliveries of Venezuela are behind the aggravation of the energy crisis.
According to various independent calculations, the Government would specify between 8,000 and 10,000 million dollars to refloat the national electrical system, an investment out of reach. And any solution would be possible only in the long term.
According to various independent calculations, the Government would specify between 8,000 and 10,000 million dollars to refloat the national electrical system, an investment out of reach
To try to alleviate it, the authorities accelerate a plan of Construction of solar parks With the help of China that must contribute throughout this year 200 MW, still far from the daily needs, which are around 1,500 MW.
The frequent blackouts have the Cuban economy, which contracted 1.9% in 2023 and did not grow last year, according to estimates of the government itself. According to these figures, the GDP of the island remains below the 2019 levels and will not exceed this 2025, for which the Executive provides for a 1%advance.
The blackouts have been the trigger for some protests, such as the social outbreak of July 2021, the greatest anti -government manifestations in decades; those of Nuevitas and Havana in August 2022; or those of Santiago de Cuba and other cities of the East in March 2024.
