Cuba Gets Ready to Generate Electricity With Fuel
Workers at a power generation plant. X/ @Rafanov91Rafael
October 18, 2024 Hour: 9:31 am
Meanwhile, the Diaz-Canel administration would prioritize the provision of electricity for residential use.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero announced that Cuba’s electricity generation would be strengthened with the arrival of crude oil shipments to the country.
RELATED:
Cuba Faces Energy Crisis: Prime Minister Announces Measures to Improve the Situation
President Miguel Diaz-Canel’s administration would prioritize the provision of electricity for residential use, even though this option might involve halting some economic activities and reducing the workday through alternatives such as teleworking or remote work.
Simultaneously, as part of policies for the rational use of electricity, Cuban authorities are also studying a differentiated system of electricity tariffs, which will allow for the regulation of consumption in the private sector.
In this regard, Edrey Rocha, the director of the Cuban Petroleum Union (CUPET), reported that the arrival of three fuel oil ships would improve the electricity supply for Havana on Friday night. “Tomorrow we will have fuel and diesel at almost all sites… About 2,000 tons of diesel will be delivered. The trend is toward an improvement in fuel availability at the power barges in Havana, Mariel, and Moa,” he said.
However, Alfredo Lopez, the director of the Cuban Electric Union, mentioned that the electricity supply might still experience some short-term difficulties due to maintenance work being carried out at the Felton and Guiteras thermoelectric plants.
Energy Minister Alfredo Lopez explained that the high sulfur content in Cuban oil affects the boilers of the Guiteras and Felton plants, which provide the majority of the country’s electricity supply. In the medium term, however, electricity supply issues are expected to ease, as the construction of 31 photovoltaic parks, each with a capacity of 20 MW, is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2025.
For his part, Prime Minister Marrero also commented that the shortage of cooking gas has led to an increase in domestic electricity demand. Therefore, another solution to Cuba’s energy problems will be to promote clean energy sources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. This policy option was already announced earlier in the year.
In June, for example, Salvador Vera, director of investments at the Cienfuegos Electric Company, announced the construction of the first of three planned solar parks in that province. Using Chinese technology, each solar park will contribute 21.87 megawatts to the national system once completed.
Currently, 95 percent of Cuba’s energy matrix is based on the use of fossil fuels, with only five percent coming from renewable sources. By 2030, however, it is expected that 29 percent of electricity will be generated from renewable sources.
teleSUR/ JF Sources: CubaDebate – PL – teleSUR
