The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant has once more ceased operations, leaving Cuba's National Electric System grappling with a staggering projected deficit of 2,085 MW during peak evening hours, according to the Electric Union. This shutdown, stemming from yet another boiler leak, marks the plant's fifteenth breakdown this year.
Having just rejoined the grid on Thursday, June 12, at 12:07 PM following a previous exit on June 7 due to similar issues, the Guiteras plant is Cuba's most crucial power facility. The Electric Union confirmed the most recent outage via social media, stating, "In the early hours, the CTE Antonio Guiteras went offline due to a boiler leak."
By 6:00 AM Monday, the National Electric System had only 995 MW available to meet a demand of 2,620 MW, already resulting in a shortfall of 1,630 MW. The forecast for peak hours is even more dire, with a maximum demand expected to reach 3,050 MW against the same availability, leading to a deficit of 2,055 MW. The official bulletin warns, "If current conditions persist, a 2,085 MW shortfall is anticipated during this period."
This figure nearly matches the historic high recorded on May 14, when a deficit of 2,174 MW left 70% of the country without power simultaneously, with only 976 MW available for a demand of 3,150 MW.
Widespread Power Plant Failures Aggravate Crisis
As of Sunday, June 14, the situation was already severe, with the maximum outage reaching 1,882 MW at 9:50 PM, leading to power cuts throughout the entire day. The Guiteras plant isn't the only facility out of action; Unit 6 of the Máximo Gómez CTE, Unit 3 of the Ernesto Guevara De La Serna CTE, Unit 2 of the Lidio Ramón Pérez CTE, and Unit 3 of the Antonio Maceo CTE are also offline due to malfunctions.
Planned maintenance is underway for Unit 5 of the Mariel CTE, Units 5 and 6 of the Renté CTE, and Unit 5 of the Nuevitas CTE. However, technical issues are compounded by a fuel shortage: 106 distributed generation plants, amounting to 890 MW, are non-operational due to lack of fuel. Additionally, the Regla and Melones floating power plants, along with the Fuel Central stations in Mariel and Moa, are inactive, culminating in 1,203 MW unavailable solely because of fuel scarcity.
Solar Energy Contribution Falls Short
Despite the addition of 54 new solar photovoltaic parks, which contributed 3,070 MWh on Sunday with a peak output of 489 MW during midday, their input remains insufficient to offset the nighttime structural deficit.
The ongoing deterioration of the Guiteras plant is attributed to a lack of comprehensive maintenance, which it hasn't received since 2010. Plant director Román Pérez Castañeda acknowledged in May that the facility requires at least 180 days of downtime for such work, but "the country's situation still doesn't allow it." Minister of Energy and Mines Vicente de la O Levy pledged this maintenance for the end of 2025 but delayed it in December due to a "temporary issue" and mentioned it again in April 2026 without specifying a date.
Social Unrest Amidst Severe Power Cuts
The impact on the population is severe, with power outages in Havana reaching 20-22 hours daily in May and June, while provinces like Granma and Santiago de Cuba have experienced blackouts lasting over 48 consecutive hours. The escalating frustration among residents has led to public demonstrations, such as those by residents of the San Ricardo neighborhood in Santiago de Cuba, who took to the streets on Sunday after enduring several days without electricity. This unrest highlights the deepening social fatigue caused by the worst energy crisis in the island's recent history.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
Why is the Antonio Guiteras plant important to Cuba?
The Antonio Guiteras plant is crucial because it is the most significant power generation facility in Cuba, playing a key role in the national grid.
What are the consequences of the plant's shutdown?
The plant's shutdown results in substantial power deficits, causing widespread blackouts that affect both residential and industrial areas across Cuba.
How is the fuel shortage impacting Cuba's power supply?
The fuel shortage has led to numerous distributed generation plants being offline, significantly reducing available power and exacerbating the overall energy crisis.
What measures are being taken to address the energy crisis?
While maintenance and upgrades are promised for the future, current actions have been inadequate, as the country struggles with both technical failures and fuel shortages.