If the forecast of electrical damage for this Tuesday was already high, the reality was even darker. Breakdowns in Havana and Cienfuegos aggravated the already deficient outlook for generation on the island and, with it, also the blackouts.
The Electrical Union (UNE) had estimated an impact of 1940 MW for yesterday’s night peak. However, the impact finally rose to 2,147 MW, an extremely high figure that marks the third highest negative record in the country.
All of these impacts above 2,100 MW—an unprecedented mark until recently in Cuba, even in the midst of the prolonged energy crisis—have occurred so far in December. The record, at least so far, is the 2185 MW on December 8.
This Tuesday the impact was just 38 MW lower due to the shutdown of several generating units after the breakdown of a 110kv line in the Cuban capital.
That breakage, which occurred at 1:32 in the afternoon, temporarily took unit 8 of the Mariel thermoelectric plant, the distributed generation engines of that same town, the Turkish landfill of Regla and unit 4 of Energás Boca de Jaruco out of circulation.
All of these units were able to rejoin during the day itself, although progressively, which exacerbated the peak of blackouts.
Also in Cienfuegos
The one in Havana, however, was not the only breakdown. Block 3 of the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant was also out for a few hours—including the nighttime peak—due to an oil leak on the turbine pedestal.
This unit was able to rejoin at night, same as Renté 6which was also in trouble. On the other hand, block 4 of the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant itself could not synchronize as planned.
After more than a year in maintenance, and after its entry into the National Electric System (SEN) was postponed more than once, said block suffered a turbine breakdown on Monday night that fuels uncertainty about its promised return this year.
In this regard, the authorities reported that the causes of what happened were being investigated and the ruling would be reported later. So far, the reason for the breakage has not been revealed nor has an estimated time for its solution.
If it cannot join in 2025, the government promise that its entry would provide a much-needed 158 MW to the SEN would be truncated—again—which would give it “greater stability for its operation.”
Maintenance at the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant stings and extends beyond the planned time
This Wednesday
Even with the units that were able to return yesterday, this Wednesday the impact will once again be high. At 6:00 in the morning it was 770 MW, but by noon the official forecast stands at 1120 MW.
For the night that figure must increase to 1820 MW, although to do so there must be more inputs from generating plants.
According to the UNEfor the night peak, Renté unit 5, four Moa Fuel engines and 80 of the almost 1000 MW that are affected by lack of fuel and lubricants in distributed generation must be incorporated.
If so, availability would rise from 1420 MW this dawn to 1610 MW at night. However, this figure is still lower than the estimated impact, which means that more than half of the country will once again be turned off simultaneously at that time.
Furthermore, if another breakdown occurs or the expected demand (3,400 MW) is exceeded, the impact would be greater than expected and, in this way, so would the already long blackouts.
