MIAMI, United States. – Up to 31% of Cuba will be dark this Thursday evening, just at the time of highest electricity consumption, according to informed the Electric Union (UNE).
Although the part of the Island that will go into blackout simultaneously is significant, it is the lowest rate of affectation since last October 5.
The UNE also reported this Thursday that units 6 and 7 of the CTE Mariel, the CTE unit Otto Parellada, units 4 and 6 of the CTE Nuevitas, unit 2 of the CTE Felton and units 4 and 6 of the CTE Rente; while unit 3 of the CTE Rente is undergoing maintenance.
“It is estimated for peak hour [de este jueves] an availability of 2,252 MW and a maximum demand of 3,150 MW, for a deficit of 898 MW, so that if the forecast conditions continue, an affectation of 968 MW is forecast at this time, of which 105 MW due to the damages caused by Hurricane Ian”, reads the UNE note.
The electricity generation deficit worsened in Cuba after the passage of Hurricane Ian at the end of September. In some parts of the country, electricity cuts reach up to 12 hours a day, according to reports the news agency EFE.
Blackouts due to breakages and faults in the obsolete Cuban thermoelectric plantslack of fuel and scheduled maintenance have been common for several months on the Island.
Although the Cuban government announced last month that it intends to reduce blackouts before the end of 2022 with repairs and new investments, the island’s outlook has not improved.
On the contrary, the lack of electricity has generated popular protests throughout the country.
On Wednesday night, amid the usual blackouts, new cacerolazos were reported in Santa Marta, Varadero and Playa Larga (Matanzas), Velasco and San Andrés (Holguín) and Altamira (Santiago de Cuba).
The people took to the streets again to demand freedom and the restoration of electricity, as can be seen in numerous videos shared on social networks.
In recent days there have also been protests in the towns of Bejucal, San José de las Lajas and Güines, in the province of Mayabeque; in Boca de Camarioca, Matanzas; and Santa Cruz del Sur, Camagüey, among others.
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