This Tuesday, Cuba is bracing for yet another night of widespread power outages. The state-run Unión Eléctrica has released a report predicting a shortfall of 2,075 MW during the peak evening hours, potentially plunging up to 64% of the nation into darkness simultaneously.
As of 6:00 AM on Tuesday, the National Electric System's availability stood at a meager 1,180 MW against a demand of 2,780 MW, with 1,600 MW already impacted at that time. For the evening peak, the state agency anticipates a capacity of 1,215 MW against a demand of 3,250 MW, resulting in a shortfall of 2,035 MW.
According to the state enterprise, the only anticipated improvement for the nighttime is the addition of unit 8 from the CTE Mariel, contributing a mere 35 MW—an insignificant amount given the scale of the potential collapse.
Underlying Causes of the Power Crisis
The reasons behind this power crisis are manifold. On the thermal generation front, units 6 and 8 of the CTE Máximo Gómez, unit 4 of the CTE Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, and unit 2 of the CTE Lidio Ramón Pérez are out of service, removing a total of 410 MW from the grid.
In addition, several units are undergoing maintenance at the Ernesto Guevara De La Serna, Antonio Maceo, and Diez de Octubre power plants.
Fuel Shortages and Their Impact
The most severe blow comes from a crippling fuel shortage: 106 distributed generation plants are idle due to lack of fuel, accounting for 890 MW. Furthermore, the Regla and Melones barges, as well as the Mariel and Moa Central Fuels, are offline. The total unavailable megawatts due to this issue reach 1,203 MW.
On Monday, the peak impact hit 2,037 MW at 8:30 PM, exceeding even the agency's own projections because of higher-than-expected demand.
Frequent Breakdowns and Protests
This scenario unfolds just a day after the CTE Antonio Guiteras plant rejoined the national grid following its latest breakdown of the year. The Matanzas facility has experienced at least 16 outages between January and mid-June 2026, with its boiler operating for over 38 years without major maintenance since 2010.
The country's 54 solar parks generated 4,579 MWh on Monday, achieving a maximum power of 631 MW at midday. However, this energy falls short of alleviating the nighttime deficit due to the absence of storage systems.
The crisis of June is part of the worst energy cycle in recent Cuban history. The record deficit was registered on May 13 and 14, 2026, reaching between 2,153 and 2,174 MW, leaving 70% of the country without power.
Blackouts have sparked pot-banging protests and demonstrations in Havana neighborhoods like Carlos III, Regla, Santos Suárez, and Marianao, as well as in Santiago de Cuba, with at least 14 people detained since June 6.
In March 2026, the First Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, Argelio Jesús Abad Vigoa, admitted that "we have exhausted the possibility of producing electricity with distributed generation," a statement that underscores the profound structural collapse afflicting Cuba's electrical system.
Cuban Power Crisis Explained
What is causing the power shortages in Cuba?
The power shortages in Cuba are primarily due to breakdowns in thermal generation units, maintenance of several power plants, and a severe fuel shortage affecting distributed generation plants.
How much of Cuba is expected to be affected by the blackouts?
It is anticipated that up to 64% of Cuba could experience power outages simultaneously during peak evening hours due to the projected power shortfall.
Have there been any protests due to the power outages?
Yes, the power outages have led to protests in various neighborhoods in Havana and Santiago de Cuba, with at least 14 people detained since early June.