Cuba will suffer from Thursday mass blackouts throughout the day that will affect 43 % of the island during the afternoon when the demand increases, the state company reported Electric Union (UNE).
The energy crisis that the country is going through was aggravated since the middle of last year and is reflected in blackouts that exceed 20 hours a day in cities such as Santiago de Cuba and Holguín. In Havana they have expanded until 10 hours a day.
Among the main causes are frequent breakdowns in thermal plants with accumulated exploitation years, as well as the lack of fuel and currency to import it, according to the Cuban government.
UNE, attached to Ministry of Energy and Minescalculate for the peak schedule in the afternoon of this day a Maximum power generation capacity of 2 240 megawatts (MW) for a demand of 3 800 MW.
This implies a deficit (the difference between supply and demand) of 1,560 MW and an estimated affectation of 1 630 MW, although it is common for real values to exceed the official prognosis.
Maintenance in the Cienfuegos Pica Thermoelectric and extends beyond the planned time
More blackouts in Cuba and an infinite energy crisis
Currently, seven of the 20 thermoelectric production units (distributed in seven centrals) are out of service due to breakdowns or maintenance. Also, 57 distributed generation centrals (engines) are out of service due to lack of fuel (diesel and fuel).
Independent experts indicate that The energy crisis responds to a chronic infinance of this sector, completely in the hands of the Cuban state Since the triumph of the revolution in 1959. The Cuban Government stands out for its part of the impact of the American sanctions To this sector.
Various independent calculations They estimate that the Government would need between 8000 and 10 billion dollars to refloat the electricity grid.
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 those figures, The island’s GDP is still below the 2019 levels and will not exceed this 2025for which the Executive provides a 1 %advance.
The cuts have been linked in recent years to the main protests that have been registered in the country, such as those of July 2021, those of August 2022 in Havana and Nuevitas or those of Santiago de Cuba and other locations in March 2024.
