Cuban Government Presents Plan to Recover the National Electric Power System
Electrim System Workers in Cuba Photo: Ministry of Mines and Energy
December 19, 2024 Hour: 9:32 pm
The Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, presented on Thursday before the National Assembly the government’s program to recover Cuba’s national electric power system (SEN). This plan is organized into six working groups that address financial solutions, fuel supply, foreign relations in the energy sector, renewable sources, efficiency, and worker support.
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Among the objectives of the plan is the recovery of 850 MW in distributed generation and in thermoelectric plants that use national fuel, reaching an average availability of 1,400 MW.
Efforts have begun for the maintenance of units 3 and 4 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes thermoelectric plant, and a project is underway to install 120 MW in photovoltaic solar parks donated by China. Additionally, there are plans to acquire 30,000 domestic photovoltaic systems and to recover the supertanker base in Matanzas.
The minister highlighted Decree 110 of 2024, which regulates the efficient use of energy carriers and renewable sources as a key result of the government strategy.
It is projected to incorporate 2,000 MW into national generation between 2025 and 2026. Starting in June, it is expected that daily outages will be covered thanks to increased capacity from solar photovoltaic energy.
De la O Levy also mentioned that in 2023, previously non-operational facilities were recovered. However, stable diesel supply has been a challenge, forcing the country to seek fuel in international markets. The availability of SEN has reached critical levels since 2019, with significant losses in generating units.
Despite these challenges, the minister emphasized that technology for distributed generation is recovering quickly. However, issues such as fuel shortages and poor quality have negatively impacted various economic sectors. He also noted that mobile generation has decreased due to financial problems.
Regarding future initiatives, De la O Levy announced plans to build 92 photovoltaic parks that will generate around 2,000 MW, with expectations that 55 will be operational by 2025. He acknowledged that the year 2024 will be complex for the electricity sector due to prolonged blackouts influenced by fuel shortages and an increase in demand.
The minister also addressed the devastating effects caused by recent hurricanes and an earthquake in Granma that severely affected electrical service. He expressed gratitude for international solidarity and joint efforts to restore services more quickly than in previous events.
Finally, De la O Levy emphasized the importance of rational energy use and how new investments must incorporate renewable sources to be approved. The government’s plan also includes measures to improve working conditions for energy sector workers, including salary increases and housing construction for employees.
Autor: OSG
Fuente: Cubadebate
