(EFE).- The state-owned company Unión Eléctrica de Cuba (UNE) reported this Wednesday that eight electricity generating units were out of operation due to breakdowns, which has caused service problems in both the eastern and western zones.
Five of the units belong to the Felton, Renté and Nuevitas thermoelectric plants in Holguín, Santiago de Cuba and Camagüey, respectively, the statement said.
Three other generating units correspond to the Máximo Gómez del Mariel thermoelectric plant, in Artemisa.
The UNE explained that the situation of generation capacity in the National Electric System “does not allow the possibility of covering the demand”
He also indicated that three other units are undergoing planned maintenance at the Lidio Ramón Pérez (Felton), Mariel and Tallapiedra thermoelectric plants, located east of Havana.
The UNE explained that the situation of generation capacity in the National Electric System “does not allow the possibility of covering demand” and that a decrease in the effects on the service is expected “to the extent that generating blocks” are incorporated in the coming days. .
“The resources are available and work is being done to solve the breakdowns in the shortest time possible,” he assured.
Given the current contingency, the UNE company asked consumers to make a “rational use” of energy in the residential area.
The situation keeps repeating itself. In the last 11 months, the Cuban Electric Union has notified more than 300 “affectations”, due to breakdowns or maintenance tasks, in a large part of the 13 thermoelectric plants in the country (8 on land and 5 floating).
In mid-March, the Antonio Guiteras western power plant, the largest thermoelectric plant in the country, was out of service due to a boiler failure one week after a planned stoppage for maintenance, and in April it was out of service for five days due to breakdowns. that affected a large part of the population of the western zone of Cuba.
In those days in the province of Matanzas and neighboring regions, three-hour rotating blackouts were scheduled for several days in a row. In Havana there were cuts for “maintenance” in six of its 15 municipalities.
The problems are mainly due to the fact that the production system is at the limit of its useful life and lacks maintenance due to the country’s economic problems.
The problems are mainly due to the fact that the production system is at the limit of its useful life and lacks maintenance due to the country’s economic problems.
Cuba relies heavily on foreign oil to produce energy (thermoelectric plants generate two-thirds of the electricity) and its main supplier, Venezuela, has notably reduced its shipments.
The Cuban government aspires to reduce this dependency and has a plan so that by 2030 37% of its energy mix (just over 3,500 megawatts) comes from renewable sources, but investments are being made very slowly.
In the summer of last year, there were blackouts in Cuba due to the inability of the system to meet the electricity demand at certain times, which generated discomfort among the population, contributing to the outbreak of anti-government protests on July 11, along with the serious economic crisis. , the shortage of basic products, the pandemic and the lack of freedoms.
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