El mayor apagón de este lunes en Cuba dejará a la vez sin corriente al 55 % del país
Cuba enfrentará este lunes uno de los mayores apagones del año, con cortes eléctricos que dejarán simultáneamente sin servicio al 55 % del país, en medio de una crisis energética agravada por averías en plantas termoeléctricas, falta de combustible y limitaciones financieras del Estado, según datos de la Unión Eléctrica
TL;DR
- Cuba anticipates extensive blackouts throughout Monday, potentially affecting 55% of the country during peak demand.
- The current energy crisis, ongoing since August 2024, has seen recent record highs in power outages.
- Reasons for the crisis include frequent breakdowns of obsolete thermoelectric plants and difficulties importing fuel.
- Fuel shortages are due to the state's lack of foreign currency and U.S. pressure on Venezuela, the primary oil supplier.
- During peak hours, generation capacity is projected at 1,488 MW against a demand of 3,250 MW, resulting in a deficit and estimated disconnection of 1,792 MW.
- Six out of 16 operational thermoelectric units are offline due to breakdowns or maintenance.
- Distributed generation units are also inoperable due to a lack of diesel, fuel oil, and lubricants.
- Independent experts estimate $8-10 billion is needed to overhaul the state-run energy system.
- The Cuban government blames U.S. sanctions for the "energy asphyxiation."
- The blackouts are negatively impacting the economy, contributing to an 11% contraction in the last five years, and have fueled recent protests.