On Tuesday, Cuba experienced one of its most challenging days of the year in terms of energy supply, with a record blackout of 2,020 megawatts (MW) occurring at 10:00 PM, as reported by the Unión Eléctrica (UNE). The outage, which lasted for a full 24 hours, showed no signs of improvement into the early hours of Wednesday, amidst a backdrop of breakdowns, extended maintenance, and fuel shortages.
Even though this peak disruption did not coincide with the time of highest demand, the numbers exceeded planned levels due to the inactivity of the Melones barge and unexpected shutdowns of two units at the Mariel and Nuevitas thermoelectric plants. As a result, thousands of Cubans were left without electricity for prolonged periods, a particularly painful situation amidst the sweltering summer heat.
The previous record, excluding widespread blackouts lasting several days, was reported on June 29, when the nation faced a maximum disruption of 1,936 MW, marking the worst day of the year in the chain of collapses within the National Electric System (SEN) until yesterday.
Cuba's Ongoing Energy Crisis: Deficits and Power Cuts Persist
The official report from the UNE, released at 7:00 AM this Wednesday, confirms that the national power grid continues to operate significantly below required levels. At that time, the availability was just 1,880 MW, while demand had already reached 3,140 MW, creating a deficit of 1,310 MW from early on. By midday, UNE forecasts a disruption of 1,100 MW.
The situation worsens during peak hours, where UNE anticipates an availability of 1,920 MW against a maximum demand of 3,700 MW, potentially leading to a deficit of 1,780 MW and disruptions of up to 1,850 MW if no favorable changes occur.
Underlying Causes of the Power System Collapse
The reasons for the electrical collapse are numerous and deeply rooted. According to UNE, the following units are currently out of service due to breakdowns: Unit 2 of the CTE Felton, Unit 5 of the CTE Nuevitas, and Unit 3 of the CTE Renté.
Planned maintenance keeps Unit 2 of the CTE Santa Cruz, Unit 4 of the CTE Cienfuegos, Unit 5 of the CTE Renté, and the CTE Guiteras, which went offline Monday morning for a scheduled four-day maintenance, out of service. Thermal limitations have taken 239 MW out of commission.
A severe fuel shortage impacts 82 distributed generation centers (651 MW) and six engines on the Regla barge (40 MW), totaling 691 MW offline due to lack of fuel. UNE expects to add only 40 MW today with the nighttime activation of the six Regla barge engines, an insufficient sum to bridge the growing gap between supply and demand.
Energy Solutions and Public Sentiment
Meanwhile, the Havana Electric Company also shared information detailing the energy outages across residential blocks. According to their Facebook post, the province experienced service disruptions throughout Tuesday. The maximum disruption reached 134 MW at 10:00 PM.
"Early Wednesday morning, there was a deficit-induced disruption in the city, but no additional emergency block was affected as previously communicated. As explained, these disruptions solely depend on the requirements of the SEN," the company detailed.
Despite contributions from solar energy, which provided 1,729 MWh on Tuesday with a peak output of 424 MW at noon thanks to 21 new solar parks, this source fails to mitigate the conventional system's structural failures effectively.
As these issues persist, Cuba remains entrenched in a chronic energy crisis that not only impacts daily life but also exacerbates essential sectors such as food production, healthcare, and basic services. In the oppressive heat, these extended power outages further deteriorate the quality of life for Cubans.
The continued energy collapse underscores the government's inability to reverse the crisis in the near or medium term. In a country where 89% of families reportedly live in extreme poverty, according to recent figures from the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, the breakdown of the electrical system is not just a technical failure but a direct threat to the everyday survival of millions of citizens.
Understanding Cuba's Power Outage Crisis
What caused the record power outage in Cuba?
The record power outage in Cuba was caused by a combination of breakdowns, extended maintenance, fuel shortages, and unexpected shutdowns at key thermoelectric plants.
How does the energy crisis affect everyday life in Cuba?
The energy crisis severely impacts daily life in Cuba by disrupting basic services, food production, healthcare, and increases discomfort due to prolonged power outages, especially in the summer heat.
Why can't solar energy solve Cuba's energy problems?
While solar energy contributes to the grid, its current capacity is insufficient to offset the structural failures of Cuba's conventional power system.