An unexpected breakdown in unit 3 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes thermal power plant, combined with scheduled maintenance at the Antonio Guiteras plant, has forced changes to the planned power outage schedule in Havana. This comes amidst a severe national energy crisis. According to a statement from the capital's Electric Company on Facebook, the National Electric System is operating under "different conditions" which necessitated the expansion and reorganization of service cuts on May 6.
Power in block #4 will be cut from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., followed by block #5 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Starting at 4:00 p.m., block #2 will experience an outage until 8:00 p.m., as stated in the company's release.
Subsequently, block #3 will be without power beginning at 7:00 p.m., with block #1 following at 8:00 p.m. The restoration of service for both is expected to occur gradually between 11:00 p.m. and midnight. However, certain circuits within block #3, which experienced outages earlier from 5:30 to 6:00 a.m. due to an emergency, will be exempt from the evening blackout, the statement clarified.
The revised schedule contradicts earlier announcements that forecasted shorter outages. Earlier in the day, another notice was issued regarding an emergency disruption affecting block #3 during the early morning hours, which added further hours without service for some residents of the capital.
Across the nation, the energy shortfall has exceeded 1,700 MW, leading to widespread and intensified power cuts. Although Havana has experienced shorter outage durations compared to other provinces, and the Electric Company generally avoids nighttime interruptions, recent reports suggest this disparity is shrinking.
Public frustration in Havana has reached a boiling point due to the repeated failure to adhere to the published outage schedule. Despite issuing informational updates on social media and official channels, residents continue to report premature outages, unplanned extensions of service cuts, and unequal distribution of power disruptions.
The failure in unit 3 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes plant occurred shortly after it was reconnected to the national grid on May 2, following a three-month downtime. Meanwhile, the Antonio Guiteras plant, the country's most critical energy facility, was taken offline for "scheduled maintenance" this Monday, expected to last five days. This maintenance follows a brief period of "fewer outages" around May Day and happens amid a backdrop of fuel shortages and severely deteriorated energy infrastructure in Cuba.
In recent months, media outlets and social networks have been inundated with complaints from residents in provinces such as Matanzas, Holguín, Camagüey, and Ciego de Ávila, where daily power outages sometimes exceed 20 hours. Cubans enduring these prolonged blackouts claim the regime is concealing the lack of fuel necessary to maintain service, while others argue that the energy crisis serves as a tool for state control.
Understanding the Energy Crisis in Cuba
What is causing the power outages in Havana?
The outages are primarily due to a combination of scheduled maintenance at the Antonio Guiteras plant and an unexpected breakdown in unit 3 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes plant.
How are Havana's power outages affecting residents?
Residents are experiencing longer and more frequent power cuts than previously announced, leading to increased frustration and dissatisfaction with the authorities.
Why is the energy situation in Cuba so critical?
The crisis is driven by severe fuel shortages and an aging, deteriorating energy infrastructure, exacerbating the challenges of maintaining stable electricity supply.