The deficit for electricity generation in Cuba It will reach 644 megawatts (MW) this Wednesday during peak demand hours, a forecast that for the first time since mid-March exceeds 500 MW.
Although the Electrical Union (UNE) He had anticipated that the difference between generation and demand would be around 380 MW, in his last part he confirmed that the deficit reached 820 MW around 8:20 pm on Tuesday, coinciding with the so-called peak hours.
The situation worsened in the last few hours with the unexpected departure of the National Electroenergetic System (SEN) from unit 2 of the Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE) Felton, who is currently being held.
According to the UNE, for today’s peak hours there is an availability of 2,176 MW to cover the demand that is around 2,820 MW.
Taking into account the need to have a reserve for the proper functioning of the SEN, in addition to the deficit, a real affectation of around 714 MW was then forecast.
The UNE indicates that the lack of generation capacity is given by the stoppage of ten plants due to breakdowns or maintenance. Unit 8 of the CTE Mariel, unit 3 of the CTE de Cienfuegos and unit 2 of the CTE Felton are disconnected from the SEN due to breakages.
In addition, the 5 units of the CTE Mariel continue not to work; unit 3 of the CTE Santa Cruz, unit of the CTE Guiteras, unit 4 of the CTE Cienfuegos, unit 6 of the CTE Diez de Octubre and units 4 and 6 of the CTE Renté, all in the process of maintenance.
Also added are the technological limitations that make it impossible to make 259 MW available through thermal generation, 909 MW due to failures in the engines that guarantee distributed generation, and another 119 MW due to maintenance on these systems.
In addition, problems with the acquisition and distribution of fuel for these engines have had a strong impact on the generation deficit, a recent crisis that also affects the country’s public and private transportation system.
In a television comparison, Lázaro Guerra, Technical Director of the UNE, clarified that the departure from Havana of one of the mobile generation platforms rented to a Turkish company is due to the need to move it to Santiago de Cuba, due to the end of contract of the one that served in that province.
The SEN remains in a precarious situation due to the instability of the operation of almost all its generation units, most of which have been in operation for more than three decades, the lack of investment for their replacement or reconditioning, and the difficulties in acquiring fuel. .
This situation worsens the social panorama, marked by a deep economic crisis added to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sanctions imposed by the United States, and the erratic measures taken internally to overcome the complex situation.
With the aim of improving the availability of electricity, the island’s Government has designed a strategy to maintain its main generating plants so that they can be in better conditions to meet the high demand of the summer months.
In addition, it established rental contracts for floating power plants that help to alleviate the difficult situation, one of the main reasons for discontent among the population.
