SLP, Mexico.- In the midst of a rebound in blackouts In Cuba, when 2024 has just begun, the Government reported that they are seeking to “recover” 38 diesel generating sets, thanks to a first shipment of spare parts from China.
Arles Luna Leiva, director of distributed generation at the Electrical Union (UNE), told the press official that the equipment has a total generation capacity of 53.8 megawatts and must be operational between January and February.
The initial shipment from China, received in late December, included engines, radiators and accessories “necessary to recover damaged equipment.”
The parts They are being distributed to all the provinces of the country, except Ciego de Ávila, Artemisa and Mayabeque, whose generating sets require different parts than those received in this first delivery.
According to Luna Leiva, the shipment from the Government of China, included within a project of equipment and spare parts for generators electricity, will allow the recovery of 400 MW of the decaying National Electroenergy System.
The ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Havana, Hua Xin, stated that the arrival of the next batches will be via charter and commercial flights, and by sea, in containers.
The official press detailed that distributed generation that consumes diesel fuel has a “marked deterioration,” with a current availability of 36% due to the impact of stable credit lines and overexploitation.
Currently, the electrical impact in Cuba amounts to 1,160 MW during peak consumption hours.
The UNE indicated that the interruptions of the electrical service are due to the lack of fuel and breakdowns in the units of the operational terrestrial thermoelectric plants. He also specified that “the effects are again concentrated in the central eastern area due to high energy transfers.”
In Cuba, units 5 and 6 of the Nuevitas CTE, unit 3 of the Renté CTE and unit 2 of the Felton CTE are in breakdown. Under maintenance is unit 2 of the CTE Santa Cruz, units 3 and 4 of the CTE Cienfuegos and unit 5 of the CTE Renté.
The limitations in thermal generation are 263 MW and 58 distributed generation plants with 260 MW are out of service due to fuel.
The “energy plan”
At the end of December, the Government of Cuba presented a comprehensive plan to stop and reverse the energy crisis, but recognized that, in the best of cases, it will be able to ensure less than half of the country’s daily electricity demand in 2025.
The minister of the sector, Vicente de la O Levy, explained before the Industry, Construction and Energy Commission of the National Assembly that it is expected to reach an average availability of 1,400 MW, well below the more than 3,000 MW that the Island requires to cover your usual daily consumption.
The strategy aims to recover 850 MW through distributed generation and thermoelectric plants that use national fuel, which is significantly far from the total coverage required by the economy and the population.
“Recover the SEN in the shortest possible time, achieving its accelerated growth and sustainability”: that is the goal announced by De la O Levy, who stated that there is financial support for its fulfillment, despite the fact that on the same day of its presentation the deficit electric would be around 40% and, just one day later, 50%.
