Power Outages Persist in Cuba as Nine Thermoelectric Units Remain Offline: Today's Energy Forecast

As Tuesday dawns, Cuba faces a severe energy crisis with no signs of improvement on the horizon.

The nation is bracing for widespread power outages throughout the day, with official forecasts indicating a shortfall that could exceed 1,800 MW during the peak evening hours.

Rather than improving, the energy situation remains dire: nine thermoelectric plants are non-operational, and the current power generation capacity falls significantly short of meeting national demand.

The result is predictable: prolonged periods without electricity across nearly the entire country, including Havana, where blackouts are approaching 14 hours daily.

Current Power Deficit and Its Impact

The latest report from the Unión Eléctrica (UNE) indicates that service was disrupted due to capacity deficits throughout the previous day and continued into the early hours of today.

The most critical point came last night when "the maximum generation capacity deficit reached 1,773 MW at 8:40 PM."

By this Tuesday morning, the situation remains dire. At 6:00 a.m., available capacity was only 1,125 MW against a demand of 2,150 MW, leaving a shortfall of 1,042 MW.

It's expected that by midday, the deficit will hit 1,100 MW.

Thermoelectric Failures and Maintenance

The deterioration of the National Electric System (SEN) is directly linked to multiple failures in major plants. Currently, nine thermoelectric units are offline due to either malfunctions or maintenance.

Among the significant issues reported by the UNE are:

• Breakdowns in units 5 and 8 at the CTE Mariel.
• Failures in units 1 and 3 at the CTE Santa Cruz.
• Shutdown of unit 2 at the CTE Felton.
• Problems in units 3 and 6 at the CTE Antonio Maceo.

Additionally, maintenance is being conducted on unit 6 at Mariel and unit 5 at Nuevitas, along with thermal generation limitations that have sidelined another 402 MW.

The system is fragile and unable to meet demand during peak consumption times.

Evening Peak to Worsen

The forecast for Tuesday's peak hours presents an even bleaker scenario. According to UNE, "availability for the peak is expected to be 1,125 MW with a maximum demand of 2,950 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,825 MW."

As such, "if current conditions persist, a shortfall of 1,855 MW is expected during this period," leading to widespread and prolonged power outages nationwide.

Havana Endures Extensive Blackouts

The capital city, Havana, is not spared from this grim situation. The Havana Electric Company reported that "yesterday, electricity service was interrupted for 13 hours and 57 minutes," with a maximum shortfall of 380 MW at night.

Moreover, additional cuts were necessary: "70 MW were impacted due to EMERGENCY" and "service could not be restored due to the Deficit."

By the end of the report, five blocks, equivalent to 170 MW, were still out of service, with recovery expected in the morning.

However, the company warned that outages would continue without a set schedule, as "the impact on blocks and circuits due to Energy Contingency, without a fixed schedule, depends on the SEN's availability conditions."

Public Discontent and Structural Issues

The ongoing crisis is exacerbated by the gap between official announcements and daily reality. The recent reconnection of the SEN, which linked the western and eastern electrical systems, has not brought any tangible improvement to the public.

Following a week marked by two total system collapses, the blackouts persist with the same intensity.

On social media, many Cubans have voiced their frustration and despair over the continued power cuts.

The situation highlights deep structural problems: aging thermoelectric plants, fuel shortages, and an energy infrastructure unable to support the country's demand.

Meanwhile, today's forecast confirms there will be no immediate relief. Cuba remains in the dark.