Once again, Cuba finds itself plunged into darkness. On September 10th, the nation endured a widespread blackout following the collapse of the National Electric System, leaving vast areas without power and highlighting the long-standing issues plaguing the country's electricity generation. In response, scores of residents took to the streets armed with pots and flashlights, voicing their anger over the blackouts and the ongoing crisis. Amid chants of unity and calls for freedom, protesters lamented enduring over 24 hours without electricity, with power restored for only a brief half-hour during the day.
Like a grim clockwork, the National Electric System (SEN) of Cuba periodically fails, plunging the entire country into a blackout. This is neither an isolated incident nor an extraordinary mishap; it's a recurring pattern that lays bare the extreme vulnerability of Cuba's energy infrastructure.
In the past year, Cubans have experienced five complete disconnections from the SEN:
- October 18, 2024: The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant's failure left the entire island in darkness.
- November 6, 2024: Hurricane Rafael toppled the grid, causing another nationwide blackout.
- December 4, 2024: An automatic shutdown at the Guiteras plant disconnected the entire system at 2:08 AM.
- March 14, 2025: A breakdown at the Diezmero substation resulted in a total SEN failure during nighttime hours.
- September 10, 2025: Once more, the Guiteras plant's unexpected shutdown dragged the entire system down, leaving the country without electricity.
Five major collapses in less than a year. These blackouts were not triggered by a nuclear catastrophe or a meteor impact but by the chronic deterioration of an outdated and poorly managed infrastructure.
The Daily Hell
The impact goes beyond a few hours without light. Each blackout means spoiled food, hospitals on the brink of collapse, disrupted communications, elderly individuals unable to use medical equipment, and families thrust back into medieval darkness. Every disconnection of the SEN plunges Cuba into an abyss of endless shadows.
A Deadly Repetition
What's truly alarming is not just the blackout itself, but its relentless recurrence. The disaster's routine has normalized the unacceptable. The future is no longer measured by development projects but by how many hours of light are available or how many days until the next system collapse.
A Journey with No Return
Thus, the island drifts in darkness towards a fate that is ominously clear: an eternal inferno of shadows where the only certainty is the repetition of failure. Each SEN disconnection serves as a stark reminder that the country is not just in crisis, but seems to have accepted living perpetually on the brink of a total blackout.
As long as the SEN continues to falter repeatedly, with darkness becoming routine and the entire nation accustomed to measuring their days by electricity hours, there will be no escape within the current framework that has led us here. These widespread blackouts are not mere accidents; they are symptoms of a system decayed to its core.
The harsh truth is this: only a regime change can extract Cuba from this eternal darkness—not just to restore electrical power, but to rekindle hope for millions of Cubans. For what is at stake is not merely the missing kilowatt but the very future of the nation.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
Why does Cuba experience frequent blackouts?
Cuba's frequent blackouts are primarily due to the chronic deterioration of its outdated and poorly managed energy infrastructure.
How many total disconnections has Cuba experienced in the past year?
Cuba has experienced five total disconnections from its National Electric System in the past year.
What are the consequences of these blackouts for Cubans?
The blackouts lead to spoiled food, strained hospitals, disrupted communications, and families falling back into darkness, severely impacting daily life.
What is the broader implication of the frequent blackouts?
Beyond immediate inconveniences, the frequent blackouts signal a systemic failure and highlight the need for significant political and infrastructural changes.