More Major Blackouts Loom in Cuba, says Energy Minister
The “system is weak,” warns the official
The “biggest problem is fuel,” the official acknowledges, anticipating another possible collapse of the national energy system.
HAVANA TIMES – With a long face and tired eyes, Cuba’s Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, tried to calm the public Thursday night on national television, but his words point to a weekend of extensive blackouts: “The system is weak, there is a large generation deficit,” he admitted.
However, De la O countered, “The conditions are not there for the National Energy System to collapse.” “Today, the Mariel barges are generating, Moa’s sites are generating, and there is generation along with Energas and the rest of the thermoelectric plants,” he added, responding to the wave of social media comments predicting another total electrical collapse this weekend.
The minister asserted that the “biggest problem” is “the fuel shortage, which doesn’t allow us to maneuver and bring everything [electricity generation] online at once. Fuel is so limited that if we allocate to one area of the country, another goes uncovered, and so on,” he stated, adding that the “technical condition” of the thermoelectric plants also plays a role in the energy crisis.
However, Levy mentioned that petroleum supplies are arriving and contracts have been secured for the coming days, anticipating that the country will “see a slight recovery from this situation starting now.”
The minister noted complications in transporting fuel from tankers to refining plants. “There are issues with the sea conditions, which make cabotage difficult,” he warned.
“We have diesel, but we face logistical issues. The limited diesel we have is concentrated in one region of the country, so a strong, extensive logistical operation is needed to distribute it nationwide, which takes time, resources, and will gradually improve as this logistics plan starts working,” he explained.
On October 17, the country registered its highest blackout impact index of the year, with a maximum deficit rate of almost 51%, according to forecasts by the Electric Union (UNE). That Thursday night, Cuba’s Prime Minister Manuel Marrero made a special appearance, warning of the severity of the crisis.
A day later, the electrical distribution system disconnected following a reported failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the most important one. The nationwide outage lasted three days. The memory of that blackout, is still fresh. The power loss not only paralyzed industry and services but also led to countless domestic issues. For many families, the little stored food spoiled due to the lack of refrigeration.
UNE’s daily report indicates that six generation units are out of order and three others are under maintenance. Additionally, 72 distributed stationary generation plants are out of service due to fuel shortages (diesel and fuel oil).
Cuba’s energy crisis has worsened in recent years, particularly since late August, with supply cuts reaching annual peaks even before the total blackout, with maximum impact rates between 41% and 51%.
The system is in a precarious state due to fuel shortages —stemming from the lack of foreign currency to import it— and frequent failures in outdated thermoelectric plants, which have been in operation for over four decades and suffer from chronic underinvestment and lack of maintenance.
First published in Spanish by 14ymedio and translated and posted in English by Havana Times.
José. The only thing the Cuban dictatorship is ready for is to beg for alms
Many people in Miami still have relatives in Cuba and want the Cuba economy to turn around. I revolution in Cuba could cost many thousand lives as Russia and maybe another major country would help with military equipment and some military personnel. I have seen the United States put in many puppet governments to help certain U S corporate interests. A much better solution in my opinion is to have the current leadership open up the economy except in healthcare and education and make major changes at all gov levels
Jose, try bringing your opinion into the 21st century rather than constantly rehashing 20th century man- of-war-military history.
It may not be the Miami Cubans, to whom you seemed so, so obsessed, but the very incompetent totalitarian Cuban dictatorial rulers who will in time be definitively defeated. A military solution in Cuba today is so, so far fetched its out of touch with current reality.
Jose, if you are so inclined, look at the facts; realize the true reality of what the Cuban bankrupt economy is presently undergoing. Even the most ardent ideological brothers, namely Russia and China to name two have not come to the aid of a country comrade – Cuba – in a time of desperate economic need.
And why not? Cuba because of decades and decades of mismanagement and incompetence have bankrupt the country; hence, the Cuban State does not have the financial means to pay debts. Today, the world revolves around money to which the Cuban peso cannot compete.
Vietnamese agricultural experts in good will came to the island to provide much needed expertise on increasing rice production. But, they up and left even before their allotted time. Why? Sources have stated that the Cuban overseers were so entrenched in their ideological agricultural ideas that the frustrated Vietnamese there to innovate and help were met with deaf ears. The Cuban government’s agricultural rulers had no wish to be schooled in new innovative agricultural methods; consequently, the entire project collapsed.
Jose writes: “Miami Cubans are hoping for another collapse . . .” Perhaps. Jose, to bring you into the here and now, for all intense and purposes, the Cuban economy is in a state of “collapse”.
Jose, the article clearly points out some sobering facts: “The system is in a precarious state due to fuel shortages —stemming from the lack of foreign currency to import it— and frequent failures in outdated thermoelectric plants, which have been in operation for over four decades and suffer from chronic underinvestment and lack of maintenance.”
Jose, rather than spouting slogans such as “ . . . the Revolución will be victorious.”, why don’t you provide some credible, factual, 21st century evidence for your claim.
Jose, as you so enthusiastically write: “We are ready for you!!!” Face the facts.
Miami Cubans are hoping for another collapse but the Revolucion will be victorious. We are ready to face any crisis and will topple any obstacle. If Miami Cubans want another round at Bay of Pigs then so be it. We are ready for you!!!