The Cuban Communist Party continues to make desperate promises of a brighter future. On Thursday, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel repeated this optimistic outlook in a preview of his podcast, 'From the Presidency,' shared on the social media platform X. Accompanied by Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy and Cuba's Union Electric Director General Alfredo López Valdés, Díaz-Canel stated that July would see fewer power outages compared to May 2025. This reference point is a month that has offered no respite to Cubans, leading to initial protests in Bayamo, Santiago de Cuba, and Cienfuegos.
"We are working to ensure that by next July, there will be fewer blackouts; conditions will be much better than they are now. In March, after inaugurating just four solar panel parks, photovoltaic generation contributed 107 MW/hours. Now, it provides 1,437 megawatt/hours. This is more than a tenfold increase, but by July, we will have over 500 MW installed in photovoltaic parks," Díaz-Canel mentioned in his podcast summary. He did not specify how many households would benefit from this installed solar energy capacity or for how long.
However, this does not mean the end of power cuts, immediately clarified the Energy Minister. "We cannot say or guarantee that we will reach zero power outages," he stated, casting doubt on Díaz-Canel's optimistic narrative.
Despite this, the minister defended against the notion that this is yet another example of the Cuban communists' inability to redirect the country's economic situation. "This is a strategy. It is not a program for waiting; it is a program for Cuba to be definitively sustainable, energy-wise. The party (PCC), the country's government is aware of the severity of the problem and is relentlessly seeking solutions, always ready to address any concerns that arise," he added in the podcast summary, overlooking the need for short-term solutions.
The announcement of this supposed relief from blackouts, which Díaz-Canel claims will be noticeable in July, follows the regime's confirmation that power cuts will persist this summer due to the usual reasons: heat, high demand, deteriorating infrastructure, scarcity of imported fuel, and idle thermoelectric plants.
Lázaro Guerra Hernández, director general of electricity at the Ministry of Energy, explained with numbers to the official newspaper Trabajadores that the estimated availability for the coming months will be 1,935 MW, compared to a demand that, despite a declining population, can reach 3,500 MW. This results in a deficit of more than 1,500 MW.
The promise of fewer summer blackouts is not new in Cuba. Last year (2024), the Electric Union predicted an improvement in thermal electricity generation during summer, estimating an increase of about 100 MW compared to the same period the previous year (2023). Now, in 2025, they promise the same, claiming to generate 500 MW more to serve a population they estimate at 9.7 million people, although independent studies lower that number to 8 million. Fewer people and more blackouts.
Facts contradicted the UNE, and by September 2024, the Energy Minister had no choice but to admit that the promises were not fulfilled and that the strategy to relieve the population had failed once again due to a worsening fuel shortage.
Cuba is experiencing a critical situation, worsened by the scarcity and high cost of food and the collapse of essential public services such as healthcare (over half a million Cubans died between 2020 and 2024); public transportation (Cuban buses recorded 46 million users from January to March 2025); and waste collection (the equivalent of three Olympic-sized pools of garbage goes uncollected daily). In this context, the general outrage is understandable following the regime's announcement that it will take three years to "recover" the national electrical system.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What are the main causes of power outages in Cuba?
The main causes of power outages in Cuba include high demand due to heat, deteriorating infrastructure, scarcity of imported fuel, and inactive thermoelectric plants.
How has solar energy impacted Cuba's power supply?
Solar energy has significantly increased its contribution, with photovoltaic generation rising from 107 MW/hours in March to 1,437 MW/hours presently. The government plans to install over 500 MW in solar parks by July.
Is the Cuban government addressing the power outage issue effectively?
While the government claims to be implementing a strategy for sustainable energy, critics note the lack of short-term solutions and previous unfulfilled promises, leading to skepticism about the effectiveness of their efforts.