Cuba is within the throes of a extreme power disaster, pushed by gasoline provide disruptions and compounded by obstacles in securing important applied sciences and provides wanted to modernize and function its growing older energy vegetation. The scenario, exacerbated by U.S. sanctions, has left the nation’s power system teetering. On the similar time, the island nation is grappling with restoration efforts within the aftermath of Hurricane Oscar, which ravaged the jap area, leaving seven useless and devastating infrastructure throughout 4 municipalities in Guantánamo province.
The nation’s energy grid collapsed on Friday, Oct. 18, as a result of failure of one of many island’s largest thermal energy vegetation—the 330-MW Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant in Matanzas province—hours after the island suffered its greatest energy outage in two years on the night time of Oct. 17. The Ministry of Vitality and Mines (MINEM) reported in a message on X that the Nationwide Electrical System (SEN) at 11 a.m. was “fully disconnected” following the sudden shutdown of the oil-fired energy plant.
Tras la salida imprevista de la CTE Antonio Guiteras, a las 11 de mañana de hoy se produjo la desconexión complete del Sistema Electroenergético Nacional. La Unión Eléctrica trabaja en su restablecimiento.
— Ministerio de Energía y Minas de Cuba 🇨🇺 (@EnergiaMinasCub) October 18, 2024
Assist and Restoration Has Begun
Mexico has prolonged technical assist to Cuba and is contemplating whether or not gasoline help might also be wanted. “We’ll all the time be supportive,” stated President Claudia Sheinbaum, indicating that Mexico’s CFE (Federal Electrical Energy Fee) “is in touch via the International Ministry with regardless of the Cuban individuals require in an effort to assist them.” Sheinbaum reaffirmed her nation’s opposition to the U.S. embargo throughout a latest press convention. Responding to a journalist’s query about the potential of sending gasoline, she stated, “At a given time, we assisted Cuba, and we’re seeing whether or not gasoline help can also be needed as [well as] humanitarian help, and it’s for the Cuban individuals, clearly, and for the nation.”
About 40.6% of Cuba’s energy technology is produced in thermal energy vegetation, 21.7% with gasoline oil engines, and 21.9% with diesel engines. Nearly 8% is produced with the accompanying fuel from oil manufacturing, 5% comes from renewable power sources (hydro, photo voltaic, and wind), and the remaining 3% is produced by floating items (thermal energy barges). As POWER has reported, Cuba’s energy system has confronted rising pressure since 2021, with blackouts changing into extra frequent attributable to accidents at key technology items and growing older thermal energy vegetation. Thermal vegetation are outdated, with most surpassing their 30-year lifespan. Frequent breakdowns, compounded by the corrosive results of high-sulfur Cuban crude oil, have led to extra frequent upkeep wants. In response, Cuba has launched a restoration plan aimed toward restoring 489 MW of energy by the top of 2023 via upgrades and investments, however the system continues to wrestle with out adequate reserve capability, prolonging blackouts.
[Editor’s note: The U.S. blockade on Cuba, a longstanding policy, continues to affect the island’s economy, limiting its access to resources and technologies necessary for infrastructure development, including the power sector, according to much of the international community. During an Oct. 21 White House press conference, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the recent power outages in Cuba, clarifying that while the U.S. is monitoring the situation closely, the Cuban government has not requested any assistance. “Cuba’s economic condition stemming from long-term mismanagement of its economic policy and resources has certainly increased the hardship of the people in Cuba,” she said. “The U.S. is not to blame for the blackouts on the island or the overall energy situation in Cuba,” she claimed.]
A Dramatic Collapse
On Friday, Oct. 18, Lázaro Guerra, director of Electrical energy of the MINEM, stated on Cuban tv that the restoration course of was ongoing. “At this second, we now have microsystems in all provinces besides Artemisa, the place restricted energy is reaching close by customers,” he stated. He additionally famous that the Energas plant was already operational, and energy was being restored in Santa Cruz del Norte, which was within the strategy of beginning up.
In western Havana, efforts have been centered on restarting the Mariel thermal energy plant, the place all three items have been operational, in contrast to different vegetation. Work was underway to attach the plant to the grid via a thermal energy barge or Havana’s community, which had electrical energy at sure substations, reminiscent of Naranjito, offering one other attainable path to Mariel. “As soon as we now have Mariel related to Energas and Santa Cruz del Norte, this can profit the western space, which is a precedence. Work can also be being carried out on the collapse of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant,” Guerra defined.
Within the east, energy was restored on the Renté energy plant, enabling work on its two items to include them into the system. Moreover, one engine from a thermal energy barge had began up. “We have already got power in Moa, which is able to enable us to create a microsystem, and we are going to proceed to take action in every territory. In Nuevitas, we’re working to resolve a problem, and in Camagüey province, we’re establishing a microsystem to provide power,” he added.
Guerra additionally reported that Felton 1 had been efficiently restarted. Within the central area, distributed technology enabled energy technology, and Energas Varadero additional strengthened the nationwide electrical system. The elevated stability in microsystems was anticipated to facilitate the interconnection of methods, finally resulting in the restoration of the nationwide grid. He confirmed that the mandatory workforce and specialists have been in place throughout all territories, guaranteeing that the restoration work could be accomplished with top quality within the shortest time attainable.
On the identical day, Guerra informed Cuban tv that the causes of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant outage, which led to the collapse of the nationwide grid, have been nonetheless beneath investigation. “At this second, every of the thermoelectric items is being reviewed for restoration,” he stated. He additionally famous that the restoration course of had begun with the Energás Puerto Escondido plant, which was already producing electrical energy utilizing pure fuel. “Later, work will likely be performed to additionally join the Energás plant at Boca de Jaruco,” he added.
Guerra defined that to synchronize every of the thermal items, microsystems, or “islands,” have been being created with the distributed technology items in varied territories. These microsystems would deliver energy to the thermoelectric vegetation, with precedence given to turbines positioned close to the thermal blocks. In the meantime, state-owned CUPET was distributing the mandatory gasoline to make sure continued technology.
“There isn’t a set timeline for full restoration, however efforts are underway to reconnect {the electrical} system as quickly as attainable,” Guerra concluded.
A Timeline of Restoration
Within the final 24 hours, Cuba has made important strides in restoring electrical energy:
7:54 a.m.: Felton 1, a part of the Lidio Ramón Pérez thermal energy plant in Holguín province, was synchronized with the nationwide grid, marking an essential step towards stabilizing energy after the whole system disconnection on October 18.
8:09 a.m.: 65 MW of energy was restored to Pinar del Río province, which is now related to the western system extending to Matanzas.
8:25 a.m.: 70.89% of Cuban prospects had electrical energy, in response to a report from the Ministry of Vitality and Mines through X (previously Twitter).
8:38 a.m.: The western subsystem was consolidated, with no service issues from Pinar del Río to elements of Matanzas. Nevertheless, the demand exceeds capability, that means load administration will likely be needed as soon as the nationwide grid is restored. Items 6 of Nuevitas and 1 of Felton, in addition to engines in Moa, began producing energy. Unit 4 of the CTE Carlos Manuel de Céspedes in Cienfuegos was within the strategy of beginning up.
9:42 a.m.: Unit 4 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes plant in Cienfuegos started its start-up course of.
10:03 a.m.: The Máximo Gómez thermal energy plant had all three items operational, powering the microsystem in western Cuba.
10:11 a.m.: In line with the Union Eléctrica (UNE), over 95% of consumers in Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Havana, Mayabeque, Las Tunas, and Holguín had energy. Between 40% and 60% of consumers in Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey, and Granma had service, whereas Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo had the bottom availability. Round 70% of Cuba had electrical energy, serving greater than 1,400 MW.
1:34 p.m.: Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Granma provinces have been related to the central-eastern system. The Energás Boca de Jaruco unit started beginning up, with unit 6 of Renté and unit 4 of the CTE Carlos Manuel de Céspedes additionally anticipated to return on-line.
3:53 p.m.: The nationwide electrical system was absolutely synchronized by 2:44 p.m., although a 1,060 MW deficit was projected for the height on October 24.
Ongoing Points and Projections
In line with the newest report from the Electrical Union, a deficit of 1,060 MW is anticipated through the night peak on Thursday, Oct. 24. On Wednesday, service was disrupted by inadequate technology capability. Although energy was restored by 3:34 a.m., by 5:48 a.m. service was as soon as once more affected attributable to technology shortages.
The best impression occurred at 6:30 p.m. with a 1,245 MW shortfall throughout peak hours. Moreover, 17 MW have been reported out in Guantánamo because of the hurricane.
As of seven:00 a.m., system availability (SEN) stood at 1,990 MW, whereas demand reached 2,160 MW, leaving 220 MW offline attributable to capability limitations. A median shortfall of 450 MW is anticipated all through the day.
A number of key thermal energy vegetation are offline: Unit 8 of Mariel TPP, Unit 3 of Cienfuegos TPP, and Unit 2 of Felton TPP are down, whereas Unit 2 of Santa Cruz TPP and Unit 5 of Renté TPP are beneath upkeep.
Thermal technology capability is at present diminished by 724 MW, and 24 distributed technology vegetation are offline attributable to gasoline shortages, affecting an extra 135 MW. For peak hour demand, the reactivation of Unit 8 at Mariel TPP, anticipated so as to add 70 MW, is at present underway.
Forecasts point out a peak-hour demand of three,050 MW, with obtainable capability at 1,990 MW, leaving a projected shortfall of 990 MW. If these situations persist, the impression may rise to 1,060 MW.
—Amaury Pérez Sánchez ([email protected]) is a chemical engineer based mostly in Cuba with the College of Camagüey.
