President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced today in a special appearance on TV that the fundamental causes of the current situation with the blackouts in Cuba are related to breakages and accumulated lack of maintenance due to financing problems, especially associated with the limitations imposed for the blockade.
“We have had to stop important activities in our economy because we have used fuel mainly for electricity generation and above all to meet the needs of the population,” he said.
He stressed that saving is an important aspect to take into account. “In the country there are almost four million homes, if only three million turned off a 20-watt light bulb that may be unnecessarily on, that would immediately represent a power of 60 megawatts.”
In the last eleven months, the Electric Union (UNE) has notified more than 300 damages in many of the 13 thermoelectric plants (8 on land and 5 floating) in the country.
The Electric Union (UNE) predicted this Thursday affectations in the service “throughout the day and night” in Cuba due to a generation deficit of up to 472 megawatts (MW).
The company estimates a maximum demand of 2,950 MW and a production of 2,478 MW, which represents a lack of 19% in that peak hour, a similar rate -although slightly lower- than that forecast in the previous two days.
The maximum deficit forecast for this Wednesday was 20% and that of Tuesday rose to 23%, according to data provided by official sources. The maximum real deficit in both days was 28%, according to figures from the UNE.
“We are working very hard to have a better situation in the most intense stage of the summer, which is the purpose we have set for ourselves, to reach the summer in a better situation,” said the Cuban president.
EFE/OnCuba.
