Almost half of Cuba will be dark during rush hour this Tuesday

MIAMI, United States. – This Tuesday, Cuba will experience its most significant interruption of electrical service so far this year, with 45% of the national territory affected by blackouts during peak consumption hours in the afternoon and evening, according to the Electrical Union (UNE). .

The UNE attributed the electricity outages to a lack of fuel and technical failures in several of the country’s thermoelectric plants, some of which have been in operation for more than four decades. This Tuesday’s energy deficit is the largest recorded so far this year; In recent weeks it has fluctuated between 20% and 35%.

For the hours of greatest energy demand, it is anticipated that the electricity generation capacity will be 1,742 megawatts (MW), compared to an estimated maximum demand of 3,050 MW. This results in a deficit of 1,308 MW, and the outages are expected to affect 1,378 MW of electrical load during peak consumption hours.

Although the energy situation on the Island had shown signs of stability in recent months, after overcoming critical periods during the summers of 2021 and 2022, the beginning of the new year has brought with it a notable decrease in energy generation capacity. .

Cuba’s electrical infrastructure is in a deep state of deterioration, with frequent breakdowns in its antiquated plants, due to a lack of sustained investment and adequate maintenance. Furthermore, added to this is the drop in the import of the necessary fuel due to lack of foreign currency.