Cuba, with an obsolete electricity system, no investment and dependent on imported oil. international

The massive blackout that occurred in Cuba this Friday is another, perhaps the most serious, in a long list of incidents in one of the worst and stressed power systems in Latin America. Decades of lack of investment in both production plants and networks and almost total dependence on fossil production (gas and, above all, diesel and fuel oil, both imported) have made it one of the most fragile in the region. Despite good initial conditions (sun and wind) for the emergence of photovoltaics and wind, the two technologies are completely changing the energy paradigm of rich countries and many emerging countries.

The largest power plant in Cuba, Antonio Guiteras (in the province of Matanzas in the northwest), whose collapse is behind the massive blackout this Friday and which, after working throughout the summer, entered for several days pending intensive maintenance Went. Came into operation in early 1988. Since then, investment in thermal power plants – which, powered by fossil fuels, remain the backbone of the island’s electricity generation – has been minimal. The result is nothing but an obsolete system, largely of Soviet origin, with half a dozen major plants having already completed or nearing the end of their useful lives. For the most part, countries are fueled by FriendEspecially from Venezuela.

In 2022, the last year for which the International Energy Agency (IEA, the energy arm of the OECD) has data, more than 83% of electricity was generated with petroleum derivatives, especially the aforementioned imported diesel and fuel oils. Natural gas plants contributed 12%. and renewable energy-biofuels; Wind, with some parks in the “experimental” phase; hydraulic, with thirty plants connected to the national grid; and photovoltaics—are still below 5%. A minimal figure, which explains a significant part of the generational problems in recent years.

stuck in time

The lack of investment in recent decades, which has caused Cuba’s electricity system to lag behind time, is due to its high dependence on fossil fuels. A triple problem. First, external dependence: although the island produces crude oil, it is not enough to cover its internal consumption and it has to resort to imports, especially from Venezuela and Mexico. Second, prices: producing electricity with oil (and, to a lesser extent, with gas) is the most expensive in any modern electricity system and forces it to burn a precious resource such as foreign exchange, which is scarce. island. , Third, interruptions: although they are capable of producing electricity 24 hours a day, an episode of fuel shortage such as that experienced in recent weeks, in which many oil tankers were not able to unload cargo on the island due to weather-related reasons Are. Risk Check your entire electrical system. And fourth, the environment, with a much higher carbon footprint than other countries of its size, with a population of about 11 million people.

The government of Miguel Díaz-Canel, at least in rhetoric, knows that the future lies in renewable energy. But investment is required, a very rare commodity on the island in recent years. A few months ago, in March, Cuban authorities announced plans to install 92 photovoltaic parks between now and 2028. They will increase the island’s generation capacity by about two gigawatts, he said, almost increasing the share of green energy. National electricity metrics cap at 25% at end of decade.

The hotel is also in the dark

Even hotels built for tourism – a priority for the Cuban government: it is its main source of foreign currency – have not been able to escape the darkness of the massive blackout on October 18, which left most people completely cut off. and the entire family became incapacitated. Having to stand in long lines to cook your food and access liquefied gas.

Cuba has been the target of international press headlines since Friday afternoon, but the situation was no better on Saturday morning. The Ministry of Energy and Mines hopes to have “greater electricity coverage in the country”. Few residents of Havana confirmed that they have electricity in their homes, especially in areas where Cubans have taken to the streets to protest the lack of this service and other basic services such as drinking water or food. However, there are some who are still in the dark. And those who have returned to the dark after seeing supplies temporarily withdraw.

“The electricity came on around five in the morning and they turned it off at six,” says Zulema Duvergel, a resident of Bauta municipality, southwest of Havana. He has been trying to wash his dirty clothes for one and a half days. No Success: You have not been able to start the washing machine. “I washed half of them and now I have to wring them out by hand.”

For others the situation may be even worse. Lizbet Likar from Remedios, Villa Clara, in the center of the island, has been without electricity for just over 36 hours. “They left it on for two hours, it went off again and we still have nothing,” he explains. “I’ve been cooking with an improvised charcoal stove, without water in the tank, thousands I am working. “I haven’t been able to rest for three nights.” They also say the unrest led some neighbors to break the windows of a store downtown, demanding officials restore service.

The Cuban government insists that it will not take longer than Saturday for the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant to return to operation. Some microelectric generation systems have begun to provide electricity to municipalities or neighborhoods scattered across the country. However, it is still uncertain when the island’s authorities will be able to guarantee the service that not only suffered a momentary failure this Friday, but has kept Cubans in continuous blackouts for some time.

Diaz-Canel said that “they are working hard and tirelessly to restore the electrical system.” And that the Executive gives “absolute priority” to the resolution of “this extremely sensitive energy emergency for the nation”.

like two years ago

The situation of the past few hours is reminiscent of the situation two years ago, at the end of September 2022, when the passage of Hurricane Ian drove the island into a state of “zero production”. Just like this Friday. Meanwhile, countless numbers of partial blackouts in different areas of the country, coupled with daily fluctuations in power supply, have pushed the economy to an all-time low – Cuba’s GDP fell 1.9% last year and points to weak growth of 0. Does it. According to the latest estimates from ECLAC, the UN economic arm for Latin America and the Caribbean, it is 5% and has fueled social unrest and protests.

In Havana, which is usually the last link in a series of blackouts due to its status as the capital, they went without lights for several days, at least six hours a day. A period when, in municipalities with smaller populations, there were already about 20 hours per day. Following the national blackout, the island’s government has paralyzed “all work activities” except “essential” activities, with resulting economic impact. It has also ordered disconnection of the network from premises that are unoccupied, as well as switching off high-consumption appliances (ovens and refrigerators, among others) during peak consumption hours.

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