As millions in Cuba endure days without electricity following the third complete collapse of the National Electric System (SEN) in 2026, President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz toured industrial sites in Havana on Wednesday. According to the official presidential website, the visit aimed to "verify innovative energy and construction solutions."
Accompanied by Armed Forces Minister General Álvaro López Miera and several Cabinet members, the leaders visited a facility producing expanded polystyrene panels with welded mesh—a system touted to save 20% to 30% in cement and over 50% in steel compared to traditional construction methods. They also toured a solar panel assembly line that has manufactured more than 3,200 units this year.
The regime asserted that with new investors and batteries, the factory could boost production to 120 panels daily on a double shift. The official statement quoted Díaz-Canel highlighting these "modern, agile, and functional solutions" and urging that such experiences be replicated in other regions and sectors of the country.
Stark Contrast to Public Reality
The glaring disparity with the public's experience is unmistakable. Last Monday's total blackout—the seventh in 18 months—left approximately 9.6 million people powerless due to the unexpected shutdown of the Nuevitas power plant's Unit No. 6 in Camagüey, triggering a cascading disconnection.
By Wednesday, only partial restoration had occurred: in Havana, about 262,369 customers had power restored, just over 30% of the service. In Matanzas, outages persisted for 87 hours consecutively; in Granma, up to 72 hours. Early Wednesday morning, protests erupted in the form of pot-banging in Alamar and La Hata, Guanabacoa.
The extent of the collapse is evident in the system's figures: the generation deficit nearly hit 2,206 MW on July 3, just two megawatts short of the historical record set on June 25.
Systemic Issues and Blame Game
At least 11 out of 16 thermal units were offline, and 106 distributed generation plants were stalled due to fuel scarcity, leaving 890 MW unavailable. The SEN's actual availability fluctuated between 935 and 944 MW against a demand of 3,100 to 3,150 MW.
Government sources attributed the crisis to the "tightening of the U.S. embargo and a six-month petroleum blockade." Cuba produces only about 40,000 barrels of oil daily but requires between 90,000 and 110,000.
Nevertheless, the crisis roots go deeper than recent sanctions: an aging thermal infrastructure, decades of underinvestment and poor maintenance, and an energy dependency the government had already cautioned about in December 2025, projecting 2026 as a "difficult" year.
Under such circumstances, producing 3,200 solar panels in six months—the figure presented by the regime as progress—remains trivial compared to the country's actual needs.
An April 2026 report estimated that an $8 billion investment in renewable energy could meet up to 93.4% of Cuba's electric demand, a target far beyond the regime's current reach.
Marrero Cruz encapsulated the official stance with a statement that rings hollow for those enduring days without power: "The solution to the energy problem lies in eliminating the dependency on fossil fuels and replacing it with clean energy."
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What caused the recent power outage in Cuba?
The latest power outage in Cuba was triggered by an unexpected shutdown of the Nuevitas power plant's Unit No. 6, which led to a cascading disconnection affecting approximately 9.6 million people.
How is the Cuban government addressing the energy crisis?
The Cuban government is exploring innovative energy solutions, such as producing expanded polystyrene panels and increasing solar panel production. However, these measures are seen as insufficient compared to the country's overall energy needs.
What are the long-term solutions proposed for Cuba's energy issues?
Long-term solutions include reducing reliance on fossil fuels and investing in renewable energy sources. An $8 billion investment in renewables could potentially cover 93.4% of the nation's electricity demand.