Havana/Up to 13 hours of blackout in neighborhoods of Havana, up to 16 in provinces such as Sancti Spíritus. The electricity deficit, which has not dropped below 2,000 megawatts (MW) in recent days, has the Island plunged into general darkness and, with it, discouragement. “Yesterday we woke up without power. Today it arrived at 8:30 am and they removed it at 11:30: only three hours,” says Pedro, a Havana resident from the Guanabacoa neighborhood, this Monday.
The young man says that his relatives living in other areas of the capital are suffering the same thing. A movie fan, he says, resigned: “Now I realize that I have gone so much to the Festival because in addition to the fact that I like to watch movies, I need to escape from my reality,” he reflects, alluding to the exhibition that takes place in Havana and which is a refuge of light and air conditioning for those who come. “You have to be strong not to break, but how difficult it is. “This is not life.”
Another symptom of energy shortage is found in the lines in front of gas stations. “The same thing happens at ten in the morning as at ten at night, there is a line,” says Luis, driver of an almendrón.
According to the most recent part of the Electrical Union of Cuba (UNE), the total impact on peak hours yesterday Sunday once again exceeded 2,000 MW (2,084) and, for this Monday, it is not expected to decrease at all. For a maximum demand of 3,300 MW, 1,268 MW are calculated available (just 38% of the needs), which means the deficit will be 2,032 MW.
“That was decreasing, decreasing, decreasing, just like the generation of thermal plants, due to the same problem: lack of financing,” said De la O Levy.
The real impact, as always, is predicted to be greater (2,062 MW), and that is taking into account that a unit of the Renté thermoelectric plant, in Santiago de Cuba, another of Mariel, in Artemisa, and the Moa generators, in Holguín, will come into service. This Sunday, to make matters worse, a fire in the boiler of a block of the Diez de Octubre thermoelectric plant, in Nuevitas (Camagüey), caused the unit to go out of service and for the moment there is 60 MW less contribution to the national energy system (SEN).
As published Granmarepair work will last 72 hours “once they can be started.” That is, it will take longer to return to service. “The recovery process will begin when the affected conduit cools enough so that the temperature allows the replacement of the damaged section,” he indicated. a manager to the official newspaper.
Thus, a headline on state television, based on the statements of the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levyand in the purest style of euphemisms during the Special Period, it seems like a practical joke: “the decrease in national crude oil and gas production stopped.”
Although the report highlighted that, in effect, gas production has increased, it also recognized that it was not serving to cover demand. In any case, the minister admitted that growth did not occur with oil. “That was decreasing, decreasing, decreasing, just like the thermal generation, due to the same problem: lack of financing,” said De la O Levy, blaming, once again, the “blockade” of the United States.
“Felton 2 must be made complete”
The minister also recalled that they have postponed to 2026 the maintenance of the Antonio Guiteras plant, the most important in the country, promised for this December, precisely because of the dire energy situation, which includes that another important thermoelectric plant, Felton, is outside the system.
In this regard, he assured that “we have found a financial way with our very scarce resources that the country has” for “the completion” of that thermoelectric plant located in Mayarí (Holguín). “Felton 2 must be made complete,” he declared. So far, he explained, they have dismantled the old boiler and have signed an agreement with “an engineering company” – which he did not name – to remake that unit and others. “These are investments that are not made in the short term,” he warned.
Regarding the high demand, in a context of generalized structural crisis, recognized by the same regime, he offered an unusual explanation: “The economy is growing, living standards are growing, living standards are growing.” And he once again recalled what the “oil bill” costs, that is, the import of fuel, without mentioning that Venezuela and, possibly, Mexico, have it for free: “billions of dollars.”
