{"id":271728,"date":"2023-06-23T14:55:56","date_gmt":"2023-06-23T18:55:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=271728"},"modified":"2023-06-23T14:56:35","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T18:56:35","slug":"power-generation-in-cuba-is-there-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/power-generation-in-cuba-is-there-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel\/","title":{"rendered":"Power generation in Cuba: is there light at the end of the tunnel?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Power generation in Cuba<\/span><\/a> has been going through, at least for a couple of years, one of its darkest periods (pun intended) in recent decades. The hole into which the island\u2019s electrical system has fallen has become deeper and deeper and, although at times there have been partial reliefs, the situation still seems far from the improvement necessary to overcome this crisis that is jeopardizing the economy as a whole and pushing people\u2019s patience to the limit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Continuous breakdowns in the generating blocks, forced delays in maintenance, cyclical difficulties with the supply of fuel and even fires, accidents and natural disasters, have combined to tighten the rope of a system weighed down by lack of financing and longevity of its thermoelectric plants.<\/span><\/p>\n

All this has resulted in an increase in blackouts (scheduled and surprise ones) throughout the country in this period. The population\u2019s malaise is evident.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the worst stage of the pandemic in Cuba, the increase in power cuts was one of the triggers for the <\/span>anti-government protests<\/span><\/a> on July 11, 2021. Then, other more localized protests, such as <\/span>those in Nuevitas<\/span><\/a> in August 2022 and those that followed in Havana after <\/span>Hurricane Ian<\/span><\/a>, also had blackouts as one of the sources of the conflict.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year the generation capacity deficit reached its most critical point, exceeding 1,000 MW and covering 24 hours a day on many occasions. Power cuts lasted 10 or more hours in a row in many parts of the island, and even in the capital, untouched in previous crises, <\/span>\u201csolidarity\u201d blackouts\u201d<\/span><\/a> were scheduled, although shorter and more spaced than in the rest of the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

Faced with this complex scenario, the Cuban government has drawn up some strategies and has tried to maneuver with the scarce resources at its disposal, in the midst of a severe economic crisis, aggravated by COVID-19 and United States sanctions. But its actions have been mostly aimed at alleviating the circumstantial crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among these solutions are the controversial Turkish floating power plants that began to arrive in the country in 2019 and for which Cuba pays a monthly rent. The amount paid is not exactly known, although it is presumed to be high. However, the Cuban government has defended them as good business.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are of the opinion that in the midst of the crisis we are experiencing, it was the best deal,\u201d <\/span>said last February<\/span><\/a> Minister of Energy and Mines Vicente de la O Levy on the television program Mesa Redonda. Then, the incorporation of more mobile generation \u2014 that is, new floating power plants \u2014 to the island during 2023 was announced, although months later the departure of some of these vessels was reported.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, even with the floating power plants and other alternatives \u2014 such as the incorporation of diesel and fuel engines \u2014, uncertainty continues to hide the horizon. After the improvement experienced towards the end of last year and the beginning of 2023, when blackouts due to deficits in generation capacity even disappeared, the advance of the year has brought new breakdowns, prolonged maintenance and other tensions. Thus, power outages have once again become a daily reality in many parts of the island.<\/span><\/p>\n

Power generation crisis in Cuba: once again<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n