The National Electric System (SEN) of Cuba continues to face a severe crisis, with widespread power outages across the country exceeding 1,700 megawatts (MW) during peak hours on November 19, 2025, as reported by the Cuban Electric Union (UNE) in its daily update.
The official statement indicated that as of 6 a.m., the SEN's availability was only 1,325 MW, while demand reached 2,404 MW, leaving 1,082 MW unserved due to a generation capacity shortfall.
By midday, the shortfall is projected to rise to 1,100 MW, and during peak hours—when demand could soar to 3,080 MW—a deficit of 1,705 MW is expected, with an estimated impact of 1,775 MW.
Breakdowns and Maintenance Issues
Currently out of service are the following units: Unit 2 at the Felton thermoelectric plant in Holguín, Unit 1 at the Santa Cruz plant in Mayabeque, and Units 3, 5, and 6 at the Renté plant in Santiago de Cuba. Additionally, the UNE notes maintenance work on Unit 2 of Santa Cruz and Unit 4 at the Cienfuegos plant, alongside thermal generation limitations of 470 MW.
Fuel shortages exacerbate the situation: 91 distributed generation centers are offline, resulting in a loss of 731 MW, along with 96 MW from the Fuel Oil Mariel plant and 80 MW unavailable due to a lack of lubricant. Altogether, the fuel deficit accounts for 907 MW being offline.
Nationwide Blackouts
The report confirms that the previous day experienced continuous 24-hour disruptions, peaking at 1,747 MW at 6:00 p.m. In Granma province, 57 MW were additionally affected due to low voltage and high transfers.
In Havana, the Electric Company announced that services were interrupted for 22 hours, with a peak outage of 337 MW at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, with no restoration in sight. Even 100 MW from non-interruptible circuits were disconnected due to the SEN's low availability. As of the latest update, blocks 2, 4, 5, and 6 remained affected, with 172 MW out of service.
Solar Parks and Post-Hurricane Recovery
Amid the power crisis, the UNE highlighted the contribution of 31 new solar photovoltaic parks, which supplied 1,659 MWh on Tuesday, reaching a peak output of 392 MW at midday.
Meanwhile, the Cuban government reported modest progress in restoring electricity in the eastern regions following Hurricane Melissa, with restoration levels as follows: Holguín at 93.54%, Granma at 96.25%, Guantánamo at 99.05%, and Santiago de Cuba at 60.07%.
The national energy crisis remains severe. Most thermoelectric plants are either broken or lack fuel, and there is insufficient backup from renewable sources. Cubans are enduring prolonged blackouts throughout much of the nation.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
The power outages in Cuba are primarily due to a significant deficit in generation capacity, coupled with widespread plant breakdowns, maintenance issues, and fuel shortages.
How is the Cuban government addressing the energy crisis?
The Cuban government is attempting to address the crisis by increasing the contribution from renewable sources like solar parks and working on restoring electricity in areas affected by recent natural disasters.