Widespread Blackout in Cuba with No Clear Explanation: UNE Claims No Failures Detected

This past Monday, Cuba experienced a complete blackout across its National Electric Grid (SEN) without any clear cause identified at the time of the official report.

The Electric Union (UNE) stated on Facebook that "there are no reported failures in any of the thermal units that were operational when the SEN disconnection occurred," while the Ministry of Energy and Mines announced that the reasons behind the collapse were still being investigated.

The UNE confirmed the total system failure by stating, "A complete disconnection of the National Electric Grid occurred. Protocols for restoration are being initiated. We will continue to provide updates."

This official confirmation plunged the nation into a widespread blackout after a day already marred by significant electrical disruptions throughout the country.

Subsequently, the UNE disclosed that microgrids were beginning to operate in various regions of the country and that Energás had a generating unit back online.

Significantly, the new official report from the UNE noted that the collapse was not associated with any failure of the thermoelectric plants that were operational at the time. Typically, such disconnections are attributed to the failure of a power plant, with the Antonio Guiteras plant often cited in previous incidents. However, the electrical company assured that no operational thermal units reported failures when the SEN system collapse occurred.

This lack of an immediate, publicly explained cause arises amid an already precarious situation.

A Day of Power Outages

According to the UNE report for March 16, the previous day experienced service disruptions due to capacity deficits throughout the 24 hours, extending into the early morning.

The maximum impact reported the day before was 1,891 megawatts at 7:20 p.m., surpassing expectations due to higher-than-forecasted demand.

Prior to the total disconnection, the system was already under significant pressure.

At 6:00 a.m. on March 16, the UNE reported an availability of only 1,140 megawatts against a demand of 2,347, with 1,220 megawatts affected at that time.

By noon, an additional 1,250 megawatts were expected to be affected, confirming that the grid was operating far below the country's actual needs even before the complete collapse.

The official report also painted a dire picture of power generation. Units reported as faulty included Unit 5 of the CTE Mariel; Units 2 and 3 of the CTE Santa Cruz; Unit 2 of the CTE Felton; and Units 3 and 6 of the CTE Antonio Maceo. Maintenance was also being carried out on Unit 6 of the CTE Mariel, Unit 5 of the CTE Nuevitas, and Unit 4 of the CTE Carlos Manuel de Céspedes in Cienfuegos.

The UNE also reported 492 megawatts out of service due to limitations in thermal generation.

Despite this scenario, the company still anticipated the entry of Unit 4 of the CTE Cienfuegos with 80 megawatts during peak hours, which was "in the startup process."

With this forecast, they calculated availability at 1,220 megawatts against a maximum demand of 3,150, resulting in a deficit of 1,930 megawatts and a projected impact of 1,960 megawatts during peak consumption.

In essence, even before the total blackout, the official planning already acknowledged a profound supply crisis.

The report also included contributions from solar generation. According to the UNE, 52 new photovoltaic solar parks produced 4,262 megawatt-hours, delivering a maximum power of 732 megawatts at midday.

However, this contribution could not prevent the worsening of the crisis or the subsequent complete system failure.

The island thus transitioned from a state of chronic deficits and prolonged outages to a total SEN disconnection without the electrical company yet explaining a specific technical trigger.

The overarching context remains a severe energy crisis marked by the aging of thermoelectric plants, fuel shortages, constant failures, and the structural fragility of the system.