As July 2026 began, Cuba found itself engulfed in one of its most severe electrical crises ever. A report from the Unión Eléctrica released this Wednesday revealed that the entire country faced 24-hour power disruptions on Tuesday, peaking at a staggering 2,211 MW loss at 10 PM, impacting all regions across the island.
Looking ahead to Wednesday, the forecast remains grim: available power is projected at a mere 1,100 MW, compared to a demand of 3,200 MW. This leaves an expected shortfall of 2,100 MW, with anticipated outages reaching 2,130 MW.
Ongoing Challenges in Power Generation
Several thermal units remain out of operation due to breakdowns: Unit 6 at the Máximo Gómez Thermoelectric Plant in Mariel, Unit 6 at the Diez de Octubre Plant in Nuevitas, and Unit 2 at the Lidio Ramón Pérez Plant in Felton.
Maintenance work continues on five additional units: Máximo Gómez 5 in Mariel, Ernesto Guevara 3 in Santa Cruz, and Antonio Maceo 5 and 6 in Renté, alongside Diez de Octubre 5 in Nuevitas.
Compounding these issues, 106 distributed generation plants are offline due to fuel shortages, including the Regla and Melones barges and Fuel Centrals in Mariel and Moa.
Promises of Partial Relief
In response to this dire situation, Canal Caribe reported that the completion of planned maintenance on thermoelectric plants could restore approximately 400 MW throughout July, according to the Unión Eléctrica.
The schedule anticipates the activation of six units: Mariel 5 with 60 MW in the coming days, Mariel 6 adding another 90 MW later in the month, Nuevitas 6 with 90 MW in the first half, and Santa Cruz 3, Renté 5, and Renté 6 each contributing 60 MW in the second half.
However, authorities admit this recovery won't solve the crisis. “While the energy increase won't meet the country's electricity demand, it will help shorten outage durations during the summer months,” Canal Caribe quoted the UNE as saying.
Setbacks and Persistent Struggles
The initial plan aimed for a more ambitious recovery, anticipating contributions of 600 MW from key units—Guiteras, Céspedes 3 and 4, and Felton 1—in July and August. However, unexpected malfunctions in Guiteras and Céspedes 4 have delayed this timeline.
The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the largest in the nation, remains a significant concern. Its economizer, operational for 38 years, has caused frequent shutdowns. A specialist cited by Canal Caribe described the dilemma: “You might ask, why not replace it entirely? But replacing it takes time, and we're on the cusp of summer. Yes, this component is 38 years old, but we can't simply decide to replace it, even if we had the resources.”
The fuel shortage exacerbates the crisis further. The same expert acknowledged, “This energy blockade due to the lack of fuel, our inability to rely on fuel for distributed generation... has forced us to extend maintenance schedules and keep units running longer than initially planned.”
Renewable Energy and Record Outages
In contrast, the 54 photovoltaic solar parks generated 5,148 MW/hour on Tuesday with a peak capacity of 858 MW, though they operate only during daylight hours.
The crisis has reached alarming milestones in 2026: a complete blackout lasting 29 hours on March 16, a record deficit of 2,174 MW on May 13, and a new record of 2,208 MW on June 25, with some areas experiencing outages lasting up to 85 consecutive hours.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What are the main causes of the current power outages in Cuba?
The primary reasons for the outages include equipment failures, maintenance delays, and a critical shortage of fuel, which has affected distributed generation plants significantly.
How does the government plan to address the power shortfall?
The government intends to restore approximately 400 MW by completing maintenance on certain thermoelectric plants, although this won't fully bridge the gap between supply and demand.
What role does renewable energy play in Cuba's energy crisis?
Renewable energy, particularly from solar parks, contributes to electricity generation but only during daylight hours, offering limited relief during the crisis.