The Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, characterized the current state of the nation's electrical grid as "acute, critical," and "extremely tense" during a press conference on Wednesday. He elaborated on the reasons behind the worsening power outages affecting the entire country.
According to the minister, the crux of the problem lies in Cuba not receiving a single fuel shipment from December 2025 through late March 2026. This almost four-month stretch left the system completely depleted of reserves.
The only relief came from a Russian donation of 100,000 tons of crude oil, which was processed at the Cienfuegos refinery. This allowed for a temporary improvement in April, with Havana experiencing several days without power cuts.
However, the fuel supply ran dry by early May, coinciding with rising temperatures and increased electricity demand, leaving the system once again "without any reserves," as noted by the minister.
Escalating Power Crisis
De la O Levy admitted that the situation has been particularly tense this week, due to Felton's shutdown coupled with fuel shortages in Mariel, Havana, and distributed generation systems.
The crisis intensified with the shutdown of the Felton thermoelectric plant in Holguín, which faced leaks in its boiler and a broken bearing in its regenerative air heater. The minister explained that the plant's operation had to be halted to prevent further damage.
A hydraulic test on Felton's boiler was scheduled for Thursday, but the subsequent startup process would take several additional hours.
The Antonio Guiteras power plant, the country's largest, had already been offline since the previous week, exacerbating the generation shortfall.
Record Power Deficit
The power deficit hit an annual record of 2,113 MW on Tuesday at 8:40 PM, surpassing the previous high of 2,075 MW recorded on March 6.
In Havana, the situation is dire, with power outages lasting between 20 to 22 hours. When power returns, it stays on for only two to three hours, or sometimes even less, before the extended outages resume, according to De la O Levy.
Challenges with Renewable Energy
Despite having over 1,300 MW of installed solar photovoltaic capacity, Cuba only utilizes an average of 580 MW. The fragility of the rest of the power system prevents it from absorbing solar energy fluctuations without risking a collapse.
The regime blames U.S. sanctions for the crisis. However, the structural reliance on imported fuels—stemming from decades of poor economic management—is the underlying cause of a system that has experienced seven total collapses in the past 18 months.
On Wednesday, Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the particularly tense state of the National Electroenergetic System, noting that Cuba failed to generate 1,100 MW that day solely due to a lack of fuel.
De la O Levy concluded with an official stance on the ongoing crisis: "We will continue to be blocked, but we will keep resisting."
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
The main cause of the power outages in Cuba is the lack of fuel shipments from December 2025 to March 2026, leaving the electrical system with no reserves. Additional issues include the shutdown of major power plants and the inability to fully utilize solar energy capacity due to system fragility.
How is the Cuban government addressing the power crisis?
The government has acknowledged the severity of the crisis and is attempting to manage it by repairing key power plants and seeking fuel donations. However, systemic issues and external sanctions complicate these efforts.
What impact does the power crisis have on daily life in Cuba?
The power crisis results in extended outages, severely disrupting daily life. In Havana, outages can last up to 22 hours, affecting both residential life and economic activities.