Cuba's energy crisis is worsening as the nation's power grid continues to falter. On Saturday, July 5, the Cuban Electric Union (UNE) announced that the entire country experienced disruptions in electricity service throughout Friday, an issue that persisted without interruption into the early hours of today. Unfortunately, the outlook for the coming hours remains bleak.
The official report indicated that the highest recorded outage was 1685 MW at 10:30 p.m., exceeding the anticipated 1,535 MW. This was due to unexpected higher consumption and the sudden shutdown of unit 3 at the Renté thermoelectric plant in Santiago de Cuba.
Unrelenting Blackouts and Overwhelming Deficits
By 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, the National Electric System (SEN) had a generation availability of only 1970 MW, while demand reached 3020 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1080 MW. At midday, an impact of at least 1050 MW was anticipated.
The most severe collapse is expected during the night. Plans include the recovery of 50 MW from distributed generation engines, which are currently offline due to fuel shortages, and the reactivation of unit 3 at CTE Renté with 55 MW. Despite these efforts, UNE projects a demand of 3650 MW with only 2075 MW of available generation, leaving the country with a 1575 MW deficit. If these conditions persist, the impact could reach 1645 MW.
Thermoelectric Breakdowns and Fuel Shortages Halt Operations
The SEN is significantly impaired by the unavailability of multiple thermal units. Unit 3 at Renté and unit 2 at Felton remain out of service. Additionally, three blocks at the Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Renté CTEs are undergoing scheduled maintenance, with 431 MW out of service due to technical limitations.
On another front, the distributed generation is severely affected by fuel scarcity: 98 plants are non-operational, equating to 848 MW unavailable. Moreover, 20 MW are halted due to a lack of engine oil. In total, 868 MW of generation capacity is not operational today, highlighting the severe energy shortage the country is facing.
Solar Energy: Still a Minor Player
Despite the installation of 18 photovoltaic solar parks, their impact remains limited. Friday's production was 1660 MWh, with a peak power of 461 MW at midday, far short of the SEN's actual needs.
A Summer of Endless Blackouts
The data confirms the harsh reality for millions of Cubans: prolonged and frequent blackouts without relief. Despite official statements promising a "joyful summer," the truth is that most of the country endures nights without electricity, fans, pumped water, and in many cases, the inability to preserve food.
If the system cannot be stabilized—a prospect growing increasingly unlikely without fuel, spare parts, and with thermoelectric plants on the brink of collapse—darkness will continue to define daily life for Cubans during this stifling summer.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing Cuba's electricity shortages?
Cuba's electricity shortages are primarily due to outdated and malfunctioning thermoelectric plants, unexpected high consumption levels, and critical fuel shortages affecting distributed generation.
How is the Cuban government addressing the energy crisis?
The Cuban government is attempting to manage the crisis by conducting maintenance on thermoelectric plants and trying to recover some capacity from distributed generation, although these measures have not been sufficient to meet demand.
What role does solar energy play in Cuba's power supply?
While Cuba has installed several solar energy parks, their contribution is still modest and insufficient to significantly offset the power shortages.