The electrical union (UNE) of Cuba does not foresee blackouts due to deficit of generating capacity during the day of this Saturday, a fact that constitutes a novelty given the circumstances of recent months.
“An availability of 2,815 MW and a maximum demand of 2,730 MW are estimated for the peak hour, for a reserve of 85 MW, so that if the forecast conditions are maintained, no affectations to the service are forecast due to capacity deficit during this time,” UNE reported on its social networks.
It also does not forecast blackouts during the day. The cuts in the electrical service, which punished the population for long months, have decreased in recent days, even in the interior of the country where they were more persistent.
Despite this, the UNE reported that units 6 and 7 of CTE Mariel, units 4 of Nuevitas, unit 5 of Renté and unit 2 of Felton are out of service due to a breakdown. Meanwhile, unit 1 of Santa Cruz and units 3 and 4 of Renté were undergoing maintenance.
The current energy crisis was reflected in cuts in the electricity supply of up to 10 hours a day, which generated great discomfort among the population already overwhelmed by the economic crisis.
The main causes of the blackouts, according to the Government, have been breakages and failures in outdated thermoelectric plants, the lack of fuel and scheduled maintenance.
Cuba estimates to end the year with blackouts of less than three hours on average
For this reason, the Government announced in September that it intended to reduce blackouts before the end of this year with repairs and new investments.
Blackouts were one of the main reasons for the anti-government protests on July 11 last year, the largest in decades. These recurred again with less intensity this year, and after the electrical collapse caused by Hurricane Ian.
According to statements by the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, in the National Assembly of People’s Power, recently, the improvement in electricity generation is possible, among other reasons, thanks to the fact that the Island has been able to import materials to repair faults and maintain its thermoelectric plants, which generate almost half of the energy needed.
Efe/OnCuba.
