The Cuban government has acknowledged that power outages will continue throughout July and August, exacerbating an ongoing energy crisis with no structural solutions in sight. This confirmation comes from an article in the state-run newspaper Trabajadores, which, instead of providing hope, underscores the regime's inability to ensure a stable electricity supply for its citizens. The official admission that disruptions will persist is a clear concession of failure.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM), the primary reasons for the power shortages are a lack of imported fuel, thermal power plants undergoing maintenance, increased demand, and the deterioration of the national electrical infrastructure. Lázaro Guerra Hernández, the director of electricity at MINEM, estimates that available power during the upcoming months will be only 1,935 MW, compared to a demand that could reach 3,500 MW, leading to a deficit of over 1,500 MW. This shortfall means daily blackouts of at least four hours per customer, though in practice, these outages often last much longer.
The government's target of reducing disruptions to an average of four hours daily hinges on increasing generation by 13 GWh and controlling consumption growth. They hope that the reintegration of the Cienfuegos thermal plant, contributing 158 MW, will help meet the high demand typical of the summer season.
Recycled Promises and Inadequate Solutions
The regime is trying to mitigate public discontent by highlighting the construction of new solar photovoltaic parks, which might minimally ease the situation during very specific timeframes (from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), maintaining a shortfall of 1,200 MW. However, even officials admit that this will not compensate for losses in thermal generation nor prevent widespread blackouts.
Promises of "deeper" maintenance (though not capital overhauls) for thermal plants and the recovery of some distributed generation engines, contingent on diesel availability, have been made ahead of the summer. Notably, the Guiteras plant in Matanzas and Felton 1 in Holguín will need to go offline for urgent maintenance to prevent major breakdowns during peak demand months. Guerra Hernández assured that these interventions will be brief to minimize technical risks. Nevertheless, he warned that Guiteras might need to go offline again at the end of the year for major maintenance, potentially further compromising the already fragile national power system.
The People: Enduring Heat, Shortages, and Silence
Meanwhile, the Cuban populace endures the hottest season of the year with daily blackouts, a shortage of cooking gas, nighttime power outages, and constant anxiety over when electricity will return. Year after year, the same official promises are made, yet living conditions continue to deteriorate. Only temporary and stopgap measures are taken, failing to address the structural collapse of an energy system teetering on the brink.
The regime, which boasts in its propaganda of technological advancements and international diplomacy, is unable to ensure the most basic necessity: electricity in the homes of its people. Even if the ambitious solar energy goal of 2,000 MW were met, it would not offset the ongoing decline of the national electrical grid since 2019.
This summer, ordinary Cubans will once again face blackouts, unbearable heat, and a lack of real solutions. Meanwhile, high-ranking regime officials continue to travel, host international events, and blame the "blockade" for a collapse that is already structural, chronic, and entirely attributable to ineffective and opaque governance.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
Why are power outages continuing in Cuba?
Power outages in Cuba persist due to a combination of factors: insufficient imported fuel, thermal power plants under maintenance, increased demand, and a deteriorating national electrical infrastructure.
What is the expected power supply deficit in Cuba this summer?
The expected power supply deficit in Cuba for the summer is over 1,500 MW, with available power estimated at 1,935 MW against a potential demand of 3,500 MW.
How is the Cuban government addressing the energy crisis?
The Cuban government is attempting to address the energy crisis by constructing new solar photovoltaic parks, promising maintenance on thermal plants, and recovering distributed generation engines, though these measures are largely seen as insufficient.