The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) announced on Friday the full restoration of the National Electric System (SEN), following the reconnection of Granma province at 3:09 PM, shortly after Unit 6 of the Máximo Gómez Thermoelectric Plant came online at 2:44 PM.
"The National Electric System is fully restored," UNE declared on its social media platforms, marking the end of over 24 hours during which Santiago de Cuba, Granma, and Guantánamo functioned as isolated microsystems.
This crisis was triggered in the early hours of Thursday, May 14, when the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant went offline at 4:58 AM due to a boiler leak—its ninth malfunction in 2026 alone.
By 6:09 AM, a partial collapse of the SEN occurred, cutting off electricity from Ciego de Ávila to Guantánamo, with a meager 636 MW available against a demand of 2,420 MW.
The reconnection process was incremental: Ciego de Ávila was reconnected at 8:16 AM, Camagüey followed at 9:19 AM, and Las Tunas at 9:50 AM, yet the easternmost provinces remained disconnected until Friday.
The situation deteriorated further on Friday when Unit 1 of the Felton Thermoelectric Plant went offline at 1:13 PM, only two and a half hours after resynchronizing with the SEN, due to high pressure in the low-pressure heater.
Ultimately, the activation of Unit 6 at the Máximo Gómez plant enabled the full restoration, though this does not signal an end to power outages.
Friday's UNE report indicated that at 6:30 AM, only 1,241 MW was available against a 2,800 MW demand, resulting in 1,565 MW being unavailable, with a projected nighttime peak deficit of 1,619 MW.
On Wednesday, May 13, a record 2,153 MW impact was noted at 9:30 PM, and on Thursday, the maximum impact hit 1,991 MW at 9:20 PM.
The crisis's root cause is dire. Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy acknowledged on Thursday that Cuba lacks fuel: "We have absolutely no fuel oil or diesel, only associated gas," describing the situation as "acute, critical, and extremely tense."
By the end of April, Cuba had exhausted the 100,000 metric tons of Russian oil received on March 31, with no new shipments confirmed. The country hasn't received Venezuelan crude since November 2025 or Mexican oil since February 2026.
The Guiteras plant, the largest single generator in the SEN, has been without major maintenance for over 15 years, with the last done in 2010. Its director, Román Pérez Castañeda, acknowledged it needs at least a 180-day shutdown, though he admitted, "the country's situation still doesn't allow it."
The "complete restoration" declared by UNE means that all provinces are interconnected to the SEN. However, the system continues to operate with a structural deficit exceeding 1,600 MW during the nighttime peak, with multiple units out of service and insufficient fuel to run the available plants.
Understanding Cuba's Electric System Crisis
What caused the collapse of Cuba's National Electric System?
The collapse began when the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant went offline due to a boiler leak, marking its ninth malfunction in 2026.
How did UNE restore the National Electric System?
The restoration was achieved by gradually reconnecting provinces and bringing Unit 6 of the Máximo Gómez plant online, completing the full restoration.
Why does Cuba face an electricity crisis?
Cuba's electricity crisis is primarily due to a lack of fuel, as acknowledged by the Energy and Mines Minister, with no current supplies of fuel oil or diesel.
What is the current status of the Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant?
The Guiteras plant requires significant maintenance, needing at least a 180-day shutdown, but the country's situation does not permit such an extensive repair period.