The Antonio Guiteras power plant, Cuba's main thermal generator, struggles to stabilize its operations this Saturday following a series of failures over the past 48 hours. This precarious situation prompted the Unión Eléctrica de Cuba (UNE) to alert the public via social media about impending widespread blackouts, further fueling public discontent and skepticism towards official figures.
Power Crisis Deepens
The current electrical collapse in Cuba is largely centered around the Guiteras plant in Matanzas. Known as the nation’s most efficient power station, it has experienced two consecutive breakdowns in a matter of hours, exacerbating an already critical situation. The trouble began on Friday morning when the unit unexpectedly went offline from the National Electric System (SEN) due to a leak in the condenser, as confirmed by UNE sources.
Technicians began emergency repairs aiming to reconnect the plant to the grid within 24 hours. Unfortunately, the effort to restart early Friday morning was unsuccessful. A second malfunction prevented the relaunch, necessitating another shutdown. By Friday night, the energy shortfall had reached 1,601 MW at 8:50 p.m., far exceeding planned levels. UNE's Saturday report indicated that the plant remains out of service, with no clear timeline for its return.
Bleak Outlook
The UNE’s bulletin highlighted that as of 7:00 a.m. Saturday, national power availability was a meager 1,650 MW against a demand of 2,810 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,183 MW. For the peak evening hours, a maximum demand of 3,400 MW is anticipated, while availability is projected to be only 1,900 MW, translating to a deficit of 1,500 MW and estimated disruptions of 1,570 MW.
This grim situation is compounded by breakdowns at other plants like Nuevitas Unit 5 and Felton Unit 2, alongside maintenance work at five units in Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Renté. Additionally, 47 distributed generation stations are offline due to fuel shortages, with another 150 MW inactive owing to oil shortages or technical issues in engines and the Melones barge. Altogether, 519 MW are inactive due to problems in this segment.
Promises and Public Discontent
The official narrative insists that a solution is forthcoming. This week, President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the "extreme severity" of the energy system and pledged investments to restore capacity and modernize infrastructure. UNE’s director, Alfredo López Valdés, assured that at least 1,000 MW would be recovered by year-end, and the government announced the purchase of mobile generation units.
However, these promises are losing credibility. Public frustration is mounting, with citizens openly questioning UNE’s daily reports, accusing them of concealing the true extent of the energy collapse. Many families report experiencing power outages exceeding 12 hours, while some provinces in central and eastern Cuba have endured continuous blackouts lasting up to 20 hours.
Protests have erupted in Bayamo and Cienfuegos, with slogans like “We want food, not talk!” and “Down with the darkness!” reflecting the social exhaustion from a prolonged crisis with no clear resolution in sight.
A Predictable Collapse
The issues with the Guiteras plant are not new. This year alone, the plant has gone offline more than a dozen times due to technical problems ranging from boiler failures to pump and condenser breakdowns. Without adequate spare parts, outdated technology, and overworked staff, each repair attempt seems more like a temporary fix than a structural solution.
The recent series of malfunctions highlights a pattern of progressive and irreversible deterioration, against which the authorities continue to rely on rhetoric and statistics increasingly perceived by the public as mere "officialist chatter." Meanwhile, the Cuban regime remains unable to offer concrete short-term solutions, aside from promises like eliminating blackouts in three years, which continue to generate more skepticism than hope.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is the current status of the Antonio Guiteras power plant?
The Antonio Guiteras power plant remains non-operational due to consecutive technical failures, contributing significantly to the current energy crisis in Cuba.
How severe are the power deficits in Cuba currently?
Cuba is experiencing a severe power deficit, with projections indicating a shortfall of 1,500 MW during peak evening hours.
What measures are being promised to address the power outages?
The Cuban government has pledged investments to restore capacity and modernize infrastructure, including the purchase of mobile generation units, but public skepticism remains high.