Blackouts throughout Monday in Cuba; More than 46 % of the country will be without light

This Monday in Cuba, In the course of the highest consumption, in the afternoon-night, Simultaneous blackouts are foreseen. Little more than 46 % of the Caribbean island would be affected by it, according to a report of the projections of the state company Electric Unión (UNE).

Since last week, Cuba recorded the highest rate of affectation by circuits that are disconnected by prevention measures to prevent a messy blackout so far this year, And in at least recent years, 57 % of the country has been dark for this reason. The government ordered classes and work to suspend for two days.

In 2024 cuts were recorded in more than half of the Cuban territory, accompanied by three national blackouts of several consecutive days.

Various areas of the country, such as the city of Cárdenas in Matanzas and the province of Cienfuegos, reached more than 20 hours a day without electric fluid; At the same time that in Havana the interruptions of the electric service increased to 6 hours for several times in the day.

According to the Cuban government, The main causes of frequent blackouts are the usual breakdowns in the obsolete thermoelectric plants terrestrial and lack of fuel.

On the other hand, Independent experts explain that the energy crisis is due to a chronic infinance of this sector, completely in the hands of the Cuban state since the triumph of the revolution in 1959.

Thermoelectric plants are obsolete, after decades of exploitation and investment deficit; And the paralysis of other infrastructure is linked to the lack of fuel and diesel, because the State has no currency to import them.

According to various independent calculationsthe Cuban government would specify Between 8 thousand and 10 billion dollars to refloat the national electrical systeman investment out of reach. And any solution would be possible only in the long term.

UNE, belonging to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, provides for the day a maximum electricity generation capacity of 1,830 megawatts (MW) In the “peak” schedule, approximately in the afternoon, for a demand that predicts to reach 3,280 MW.

The deficitthe difference between supply and demand, will be 1,450 MW and the real damage will reach 1,520 MW at the time of greater consumption.

UNE also reported breakdowns and maintenance in eight of the 20 thermoelectric production units (distributed in seven centrals). In addition, 55 distributed generation centrals and a floating central (Pinana) are out of service due to lack of fuel (fuel and diesel).

The constant blackouts have the Cuban economy, which contracted 1.9 % in 2023 and did not increase last year, according to estimates of the government itself. According to those figures, The GDP of the island remains below the 2019 levels and will not be reached by this 2025for which the Executive provides a 1 %advance.

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AS