Crisis in Cuba: The regime expects a new wave of simultaneous blackouts across much of the island

State institution Electrical union (UNE) of Cuba It has warned the citizens Cuts This Tuesday at Power Supply. A blackout is coming 37% of the island And they will be when Later nightHigh consumption hours.

However, this announcement is not a new thing on the island. For months, Cuba’s energy crisis has resulted in constant power outages. This situation worsened after the passing of time Cyclone Ion From the west – at the end of September – that These blackouts have become longer and more frequent. According to records, the cuts have exceeded 12 hours a day in some parts of the island.

In addition to the logistical problems it creates in daily tasks and jobs, these cuts have a direct impact Soft food situation The islanders, often facing difficulties in accessing food and facing long and surprising cuts, are forced to throw it away because they cannot properly preserve it.

For this Tuesday, UNE calculates that 2,022 megawatts (MW) will be produced during peak consumption hours, compared to the required 3,100 MW. Thus, then, the shortfall in power generation will be 1,078 MW and the vulnerability will be 1,148 MW.

Until now, 7 units out of 20 power generating units are in the country No service Due to repair or maintenance. These units are distributed across eight land plants and six floating plants – which are leased to the Turkish company.

A. This Tuesday to keep the units from running and face the crisis New floating plant Will be added in the coming weeks. The move comes in addition to an announcement made by the Cuban regime last September, in which it expressed its willingness to reduce blackouts by the end of the year.

Beyond the external aid that could reach the island, the The real solution The energy system falls over a series Extensive repairs Facilities and new Investments. Outages occur due to breakdowns and breakdowns in outdated thermoelectric plants, fuel shortages and unscheduled maintenance.

Cuba has seven of the eight geothermal power plants For over 40 yearsWhile the average age of these infrastructures is 30. In addition, the care provided is not perfect because the lack of resources – according to the regime – is a result of US sanctions.

While blackouts had been ongoing since at least May, more protests began to take place across the country in July, and escalated sharply in late September and early October when Hurricane Ian made landfall on the island.

This event usually caused severe damage to the island, an unleashing Lack of food, Water and A Collapse of the energy system National. Ten days after the typhoon, the government is still unable to respond to the situation, with only 38% of the population having electricity.

That is why, after the demonstrations on July 11, 2021, the blackout has become one of the main reasons why Cubans took to the streets to demonstrate against the regime.

(with information from EFE)

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