The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) announced a complete failure of the National Electric System (SEN) at 9:14 AM Wednesday, resulting in a widespread blackout across the entire island. The state-run entity confirmed the system's collapse in a brief official statement, occurring just days after eastern Cuba was left in darkness last Sunday.
Later, UNE identified the cause: the "collapse of the National Electroenergetic System following the unforeseen shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant," the same reason behind previous mass outages. On a day initially expecting a 1,790 MW impact, this incident added to the island's ongoing energy struggles.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM), in a post on X, confirmed the cause while emphasizing a thorough investigation into the incident. "The restoration process has begun," the terse communiqué stated.
Just hours after the massive blackout impacted eastern Cuba, the government acknowledged on Monday that the electrical system's situation is "severe" and that the Antonio Guiteras plant in Matanzas will need to halt operations in the coming months for maintenance. This announcement hinted at more significant disruptions ahead and, in hindsight, foreshadowed Wednesday's island-wide power outage.
Details of a press conference led by Lázaro Guerra Hernández, MINEM's Director General of Electricity, and Alfredo López Valdés, UNE's General Director, were shared by state journalist Ana Teresa Badía on Facebook. Amidst these developments, UNE defended the prolonged blackouts affecting the nation, attributing them to numerous thermal power plants operating for over 40 years without receiving essential capital maintenance cycles.
López explained that the extreme aging of these units has severely complicated technical interventions, causing delays and unforeseen failures. "It's challenging to predict the repair timeline accurately because you encounter unexpected problems once you start disassembling," López Valdés stated in comments broadcasted by the state media outlet Canal Caribe.
This widespread SEN collapse marks the second occurrence in 2025. The previous incident was reported in March due to a breakdown at the Diezmero substation.
Understanding Cuba's Electrical System Challenges
What caused the recent blackout in Cuba?
The recent blackout was caused by the unforeseen shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant, leading to a collapse of the National Electroenergetic System.
How is the government addressing the electrical issues?
The government has begun the restoration process and plans to investigate the incident thoroughly to address ongoing electrical issues.
What are the long-term solutions for Cuba's power outages?
The long-term solutions involve significant maintenance and upgrades to the aging thermal power plants, many of which have been in operation for over 40 years without necessary maintenance cycles.