Cuba Faces Widespread Blackouts Due to 1,900 MW Power Deficit

This Friday, Cuba woke up to a severe electricity crisis, characterized by prolonged power outages and a generation system struggling to meet national demand.

The Electric Union (UNE) reported that on Christmas Day, the power supply was continuously affected for 24 hours, peaking at 2,171 megawatts at 6:20 pm. This number exceeded the forecasted disruption of 1,965 MW, as a major unit at the Mariel complex failed to join the system as planned.

By Friday morning, the available capacity barely reached 1,260 MW against a demand of approximately 2,250 MW, resulting in an immediate shortfall of over 900 MW. By noon, the state company anticipated the deficit would rise to nearly 1,100 MW, confirming that blackouts would persist across large areas of the country.

The Struggle of Cuba's National Electric System

The deterioration of the National Electroenergetic System (SEN) is evident on multiple fronts. In Mariel, three generator blocks are out of service due to technical failures, while another unit at the Felton plant is also inactive because of mechanical issues. One of the Máximo Gómez thermoelectric units (Mariel) went offline at 9:58 am, just 55 minutes after synchronizing with the system, highlighting the system's fragility.

This brief operation period sparked ironic and frustrated comments on social media, where citizens noted the unit "didn't even last an hour," and questioned the time authorities spend "investigating" each breakdown, only for the same issues to reoccur days later.

Impact of Fuel Shortages and Outdated Infrastructure

Adding to the challenges, two plants at the Santa Cruz del Norte and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes thermoelectric centers in Cienfuegos remain shut down due to maintenance processes that have exceeded their timelines, further reducing the country’s thermal capacity. In total, more than 600 MW are unavailable due to technical limitations in the thermoelectric plants.

The situation is worsened by the precarious fuel supply. Over a hundred distributed generation plants cannot operate fully due to shortages of diesel and fuel oil. Meanwhile, floating installations and plants in eastern Cuba's mining areas are also unable to provide energy due to a lack of essential supplies like lubricants.

Combined, these deficiencies account for over 1,200 MW of daily unproduced power, not because of structural machine failures, but due to the inability to provide basic operational resources.

Attempted Solutions and Continued Challenges

During peak consumption hours, the UNE plans the partial reintegration of some units and platforms, which would raise availability to about 1,490 MW. However, with a projected maximum demand exceeding 3,300 MW, the nighttime deficit could reach 1,860 MW, subjecting the population to simultaneous power cuts affecting 1,890 MW.

Despite having 34 photovoltaic solar parks, which contributed almost 3,000 MW on this day with a maximum output close to 584 megawatts, this effort falls short of compensating for the collapse of thermal generation and the chronic fuel shortages that stifle the system.

In Havana, the capital's electric company confirmed that, due to low energy availability, it won't be possible to adhere to announced schedules. On Thursday, the electrical service was disrupted for 15 hours and 12 minutes, with a maximum impact of 419 MW at 6:20 pm, which was restored by 1:30 am today.

Emergency disconnections and rotations of blocks will occur based on system pressure, leaving thousands of families uncertain about when power will return. The scenario exposes an exhausted energy grid, characterized by a lack of timely investments, absence of systematic maintenance, and an inability to ensure fuel, parts, and operational stability.

As authorities acknowledge deficits in their daily reports, millions of Cubans continue to organize their lives around candles, flashlights, and makeshift generators, in a country where darkness has become the norm.