Tag: Cuban electricity problems

Another Cuban Blackout

On January 28, “a breakdown in unit 5 of the Diez de Octubre Thermoelectric Plant in Nuevitas” caused a blackout affecting around half of Cuba.  In addition, unit 2 in Felton has been out of service since 2022 and generation units at the Santa Cruz del Norte, Cienfuegos and Renté thermoelectric plants are undergoing maintenance. Furthermore, the fuel shortage prevents generating 348 MW with generator sets.[1]

Unrelated, “the Cuban government collected more than five million pesos in Matanzas by last week, through more than 2,000 fines, as a result of more than 13,000 control actions. . . . Of the total of 262 fines imposed by the Provincial Inspection Directorate, with an amount of more than one million pesos, 148 of them respond to non-compliance with pricing policies, with fines amounting to more than 800,000 pesos.”[2]

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[1]  The Nuevitas Thermoelectric Plant breaks down and half of Cuba is in blackout, Diario de Cuba (Jan. 28, 2025). https://diariodecuba.com/cuba/1738096729_59642.html

[2]  The crusade against the private sector continues: the Government collects more than five million pesos in fines in Matanzas, Diario de Cuba (Jan. 23, 2025).

More Cuban Electrical Problems

Late on October 18 the Cuban government celebrated the “gradual” restoration of electrical service. But at 6:15 am on the 19th “the state-owned Empresa Eléctrica de La Habana announced the total disconnection of the National Electric System had occurred again.”[1]

“There have been weeks of worsening blackouts, often lasting 10-20 hours, across much of the island, which Cuba’s government has blamed on deteriorating infrastructure, fuel shortages and rising demand. Strong winds that began with Hurricane Milton last week had also made it harder to deliver scarce fuel from boats offshore, officials have said.”

“Fuel deliveries to the island have dropped off significantly this year, as Venezuela, Russia and Mexico, once leading suppliers, have reduced their exports to Cuba. Venezuela slashed its deliveries of subsidised fuel by half this year, forcing the island to search for far more expensive oil on the spot market.”

The Cuban government also leveled some blame for these problems on the U.S. embargo (blockade).

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[1] Cuba returns to darkness, hours after the government celebrated the ‘gradual’ restoration of electricity, Diario de Cuba (Nov. 19, 2024); Cuba suffered second total power blackout in two days, Guardian (Nov. 19, 2024); Rodriguez, Cuba gets some electricity back after major power outage left millions in the dark, Wash. Post (Nov. 19, 2024); The restoration of the National electric System is gradually progressing in Cuba,  Granma (Nov. 19, 2024); Senon, The US blockade is an impediment to the development of the energy sector. Granma (Oct. 18, 2024).

 

More Electricity Problems in Cuba

With ceased operations of two Cuban thermoelectric plants and long power outages on September 17-18, Cuba is experiencing a power deficit of 45% of national demand. [1]

Although Havana had the fewest power cuts, there were areas in the city without power for more than eight hours while Matanzas had electricity for only two of every eight hours. More generally on September 18, the overall system is expected to generate 1,930 MW for a demand of 3,250 MW.

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[1] Two thermoelectric plants break down and the deficit in Cuba exceeds 40% of demand, Diario de Cuba (Sept. 18, 2024).

Electricity Problems in Cuba    

Cuba is facing immense problems for producing electricity.[1]

There are now fve Cuban thermoelectric plants not working: unit 3 of Renté, in Santiago de Cuba, unit 5 of the Nuevitas generating plant, unit 1 in Santa Cruz del Norte, unit 2 in Felton and unit 6 in Rente.  In addition, there are 58 distributed generation engines stopped due to “fuel shortages.”

“This situation has occurred after months of promises from the authorities, who assured that blackouts would decrease during the summer and to do so they implemented an ambitious maintenance plan for thermoelectric plants that involved service cuts of up to more than 20 hours in some territories during part of March and April.”

“In mid-June, Jorge Piñón, director of the Energy Program for Latin America and the Caribbean at the University of Texas, warned DIARIO DE CUBA that “Cuban plants are beyond their useful life cycle, with more than 35 years of exploitation. That is why we have always said that there is no short-term patch solution. The total recapitalization of the system is the only solution, and Cuba does not have what it needs for that: time (three to five years) and money (five to eight billion dollars).”

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[1] August begins in Cuba with five thermoelectric plants in disarray and 24-hour blackouts, Diario de Duba (Aug. 1, 2024)