Havana/The Cuban electrical system will reach its maximum historical deficit this Sunday, after the umpteenth shutdown of the country’s largest thermoelectric plant, Antonio Guiteras, while the Government squanders resources on celebrations in Pinar del Río for the 73rd anniversary of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks.
According to the daily report of the Electrical Union (UNE), the plant in Matanzas, which contributes 220 MW to the SEN, “left the national electrical system due to a breakdown in the economizer of its boiler.” The report justifies the new inoperability due to “a leak in this part”, which “causes an overconsumption of water that forces the unit to be stopped to avoid further damage.”
The new departure of Guiteras, which accumulates endless damage and drags at least 20 breakdowns so far this year, it occurs in a month in which they have registered three blackouts nationals on the Island.
As for the rest of the units, it was reported that 6 of the Mariel thermoelectric plant, 6 of Nuevitas, 2 of Felton and 3 of the CTE Renté “are in breakdown”, while 3 of Santa Cruz, 5 of Nuevitas and units 5 and 6 of Renté are still in “maintenance”.
3 of Santa Cruz, 5 of Nuevitas and units 5 and 6 of Renté are still in “maintenance”
In total, nine of the country’s 16 thermoelectric generation units are not operational. This source is responsible for 40% of the energy mix and is fed by national crude oil. The other 40% of the mix is in charge of the generation engines, but this energy source, which requires diesel and fuel oil, has been stopped since January due to sanctions by the US Government.
Added to this are breakdowns in transformers and distribution networks, particularly in Havana. According to the Cuban News Agency, in the capital they are carrying out an intensive campaign of “repair, maintenance and replacement of single-phase electrical transformers.” These interruptions are recorded with a daily average of 25, although on certain days the figure exceeded 60 damaged equipment.
According to the authorities, the breakdowns occur due to increased consumption due to high temperatures and prolonged hours of energy deficit this summer.
With this panorama, the national situation for this Sunday, July 26, looks critical. At 6:00 in the morning, the availability of the SEN was barely 900 MW compared to a demand of 2,724 MW. At that time there were already 1,698 MW affected, and by midday the UNE estimated an impact of 1,550 MW.
For the hours of maximum demand, when solar energy no longer contributes anything to the SEN, the state company calculates an expected impact of 2,330 MW
The forecast for the night is even worse. For the hours of maximum demand, when solar energy no longer contributes anything to the SEN, the state company calculates an expected impact of 2,330 MW, close to the record deficit registered in the first week of July, 2,341 MWa figure that, at the time, was justified as being “higher than planned due to the non-entry of planned units.” This meant the absence of more than three quarters of the energy necessary for the country (75.5%).
As for this Saturday, the situation was not the best either. The UNE explained that “the service was affected due to a capacity deficit for 24 hours and the impact continued throughout the early morning hours. The maximum impact due to a deficit in generation capacity yesterday was 1,883 MW at 9:40 p.m.”
Despite the country’s energy crisis, “a gala” was held on July 26 and the centenary of Fidel Castro’s birth was commemorated, with a show that had no energy problems for its performance in Pinar del Río. The same, according to Cubadebatestarted with Voices of the peoplea production that featured the participation of the Éxtasis Chamber Orchestra, the Ernesto Lecuona Lyric Company and students from the National Dance School, under the cinematography of Yamila Pérez Jarvis.
Despite the country’s energy crisis, “a gala” was held on July 26 and the centenary of Fidel Castro’s birth was commemorated.
“The repertoire included everything from trova and décimas to an emotional medley of songs from the people that remembered the heroic deed: It’s always 26, Riding with Fidel, Girón, the Victory and And that’s when Fidel arrived“reported the state media, which published photos in which you can see the attendance of Miguel Díaz-Canel and his wife, Lis Cuesta.
The precarious energy situation in the country has caused, in many parts of the country, blackouts to reach more than 20 consecutive hours, which has generated, markedly since Marcha wave of protests in various parts of the country.
The Island has been plunged into a deep energy crisis since mid-2024, which is explained by the conjunction of a structural factor, the deeply obsolete energy system, and the blockade that began at the end of January.
Independent experts consider that the complete sanitation of the SEN would require 10 years and up to 10 billion dollarsa figure outside the possibilities of Cuba, which has been mired in a serious economic crisis for more than six years.
