The Antonio Guiteras power plant, the most crucial energy source in Cuba, successfully reconnected to the National Electric System (SEN) on Tuesday afternoon. This reconnection follows a morning outage caused by a boiler malfunction. The Electric Union (UNE) announced on Facebook at 2:45 PM local time that the unit was back online, though they provided no further details about the technical conditions of the restoration.
The Guiteras plant had disconnected at 9:28 AM, shortly after Unit 6 of Energás Jaruco went offline. On social media, the news was met with skepticism, frustration, and sarcasm. Many users were still without electricity at the time of the announcement.
"Why doesn't Santiago have power since 6 AM? Where is that electricity going?" questioned one user. Another remarked, "How curious, the power went out at that exact hour," highlighting the contradiction between official reports and the reality in Cuban households.
Complaints proliferated online with comments like "No words, this is unbearable torture," "No power since 4 AM and still nothing," and "Two AAA batteries provide more electricity than Guiteras," users sarcastically noted.
Widespread Power Challenges in Cuba
A resident from Pinar del Río urged the UNE and the Ministry of Energy and Mines to examine the load distribution in the province: "We are without electricity for more than 20 hours daily while Artemisa and Mayabeque have rotations of 5x5."
The Cuban electrical crisis has intensified in recent weeks. Prior to the Guiteras and Energás Jaruco outages, units in Felton, Santa Cruz, Mariel, and Renté were already offline due to malfunctions or maintenance. Additionally, there are thermal limitations of 307 MW and a fuel shortage affecting over 270 MW in distributed generation.
The forecast for Tuesday's peak period predicted an impact exceeding 1,740 MW, signaling prolonged blackouts across almost the entire country. For months, the Cuban government has attempted to justify the power outages by attributing them to the U.S. embargo. In a video released in September, Díaz-Canel presented statements from Rubén Campos, director of the Guiteras power plant, who stated that the plant is "the most affected industry in Cuba due to the tightening of the blockade."
Campos claimed that paid-for parts have not been delivered due to containing components of U.S. origin, and experts have canceled technical visits fearing sanctions. This rhetoric was echoed by other officials. In May, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, Argelio Abad Vigoa, insisted on the Round Table program that "the blackouts are a consequence of the criminal American blockade, not just talk."
Despite the partial restoration of some generating units, conditions in Cuban households remain dire. The prolonged outages, unbearable heat, lack of equitable planning, and the SEN's instability are fueling widespread discontent. While the synchronization of the Guiteras plant may temporarily ease the load, it fails to address a structural problem worsened by years of insufficient investment, maintenance, and energy diversification.
Cuba's Energy Crisis and Its Impact
What caused the outage at the Antonio Guiteras power plant?
The outage at the Antonio Guiteras power plant was caused by a malfunction in the boiler.
How is the Cuban government justifying the ongoing power outages?
The Cuban government is attributing the ongoing power outages to the U.S. embargo, claiming that it prevents the delivery of necessary parts and technical support.
What are some of the challenges faced by the Cuban electrical system?
The Cuban electrical system faces challenges such as thermal limitations, fuel shortages, and insufficient investment in infrastructure and maintenance.