Cuba Faces Surge in Power Outages Amidst Over 1,700 MW Deficit

Cuba's National Electric System is experiencing significant challenges on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, with a power generation shortfall exceeding 1,700 megawatts (MW), as confirmed by the Cuban Electric Union (UNE) in its official report.

At 6:00 a.m., the system's total availability was 1,390 MW, while the demand surged to 2,270 MW, resulting in an immediate shortfall of 904 MW. By midday, the UNE projected 950 MW to be out of service, and during the nighttime peak, the deficit is expected to reach 1,665 MW, affecting approximately half the country with 1,735 MW unavailable.

Power Shortages Hit Havana Hard

Havana's Electric Company has confirmed that the capital city is also enduring scheduled blackouts. On Monday, November 17, power was cut from 2:00 p.m. to 1:43 a.m., with a maximum impact of 270 MW. Local authorities have released a new blackout schedule extending from Tuesday into the early hours of Wednesday, November 19, based on "SEN demands."

Critical Infrastructure Failures

The UNE report highlights the exacerbation of the crisis due to simultaneous breakdowns in five thermoelectric units—units 3, 5, and 6 of the Antonio Maceo CTE in Santiago de Cuba, unit 2 of Felton in Holguín, and unit 3 of Santa Cruz del Norte—alongside maintenance in two other plants (Santa Cruz and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes in Cienfuegos).

Adding to the woes are 472 MW limited due to thermal failures and a critical shortage of fuel and lubricants, which has left 84 distributed generation stations offline (688 MW), along with 96 MW unavailable at the Mariel Fuel Engine Plant. Altogether, 891 MW are offline due to a lack of essential resources.

Renewable Energy Falls Short

Meanwhile, Cuba's 31 solar photovoltaic parks contributed a mere 2,020 MWh the previous day, insufficient to offset the decline in thermal system capacity.

Eastern Cuba Under Strain

The eastern region of Cuba remains under additional pressure from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Melissa, which left 111 MW out of service in Holguín, Granma, and Santiago de Cuba, and another 50 MW in Granma due to low voltage. Power outages persist nearly 24 hours a day, with demand peaks the system can't sustain, underscoring a worsening structural crisis.

On Sunday, November 16, the UNE reported a 1,475 MW deficit, leaving millions of Cubans without electricity for nearly the entire day. Over 800 MW were out of service due to fuel and lubricant shortages, a situation now repeating and worsening.

Recently, deficit levels have fluctuated between 1,400 and 1,500 MW, excluding additional impacts in the eastern region. Tuesday's surge beyond 1,700 MW highlights the government's inability to reverse the deterioration of the SEN, whose aging and poorly managed infrastructure continues to fail.

Enduring Impact on Cuban Society

Prolonged power outages have severely impacted the Cuban population, leaving them without refrigeration, pumped water, or electrical transportation for hours on end. In many provinces, blackouts last over 20 hours daily, disrupting food production, hospital operations, and daily life.

Despite daily reports and announcements of "temporary disruptions," the Cuban populace is enduring a persistent energy crisis, intensified by the lack of genuine investment and the inefficiency of the state apparatus. The UNE has not provided details on a potential recovery timeline or forecasts for the rest of the week, while power outages continue to extend across the nation.