Arequipa, Peru – The energy crisis in Cuba has intensified during the last days and for Sunday the blackouts will affect more than 50 % of the national territory.
The State Electric Union (UNE) company reported this April 20 That service interruptions are due to a combination of fuel shortage and breakdowns in thermoelectric power plants (CTE), especially the “unforeseen exit” this Saturday of units 5 of CTE Nuevitas and 1 of the CTE Felton.
According to official forecasts, during the time of greatest demand, the maximum generation capacity will be 1,654 MWMEGAVATIOS (MW), against an estimated demand of 3,350. This will leave a deficit of 1,696 MW and a real affectation of up to 1,766 MW, which will result in prolonged cuts during the peak hours of the afternoon and night.
In recent years, Cuba has faced frequent blackouts that have severely impacted the daily life of the population and in key economic sectors.
Independent experts point out that the Cuban electrical system undergoes chronic infinance that limits its ability to respond to breakdowns and makes any modernization plan difficult. For its part, the Cuban regime holds the economic sanctions imposed by the United States that, according to the rulers’ speech, hinder the acquisition of fuel and spare parts in the international market.
The modernization of the country’s electricity network would require, according to technical estimates, between 8,000 and 10,000 million dollars, an investment that is currently beyond the reach of the Cuban State in the midst of the deep economic crisis in which it has plunged the country.
Meanwhile, the population continues to deal with the direct consequences of the blackouts: interruptions in the water supply, food deterioration due to lack of refrigeration, and difficulties for the functioning of hospitals, schools and other essential services.
