Cuba's Electric Union (UNE) announced on Monday that 106 distributed generation plants have been shut down due to a lack of fuel, exacerbating an ongoing power crisis that left the country in darkness for the entire day on Sunday.
On Monday, the national electric system started with a meager availability of just 1,150 MW, while the demand stood at 2,690 MW, resulting in an immediate shortfall of 1,555 MW.
The situation becomes even more dire at night. The UNE forecasts that during peak hours, only 1,155 MW will be available against a demand of 3,150 MW, anticipating a deficit of 1,990 MW and a predicted impact of 2,020 MW.
Compounding the Crisis
In addition to the 106 distributed generation plants sidelined by fuel shortages, the organization reported that the Patana de Regla, Patana de Melones, Mariel Fuel Plant, and Moa Fuel Plant are also offline, collectively accounting for an approximate loss of 1,203 MW.
Among conventional thermoelectric plants, several units are currently out of service: units six and eight of the Máximo Gómez Thermoelectric Plant in the Mariel Special Zone, unit two of Lidio Ramón Pérez in Felton, and unit three of Antonio Maceo in Renté.
Maintenance and Repairs
Several units are undergoing maintenance: unit three of the Ernesto Guevara De La Serna Thermoelectric Plant in Santa Cruz, units five and six of Antonio Maceo in Renté, and unit five of Diez de Octubre in Nuevitas.
The UNE acknowledged that on Sunday, "electric service was disrupted for 24 hours, including overnight, due to insufficient generation capacity," with a peak shortfall of 1,775 MW recorded at 9:50 PM, affecting all provinces.
Renewable Energy Struggles
The 54 photovoltaic solar parks produced 5,245 MW/hour on Sunday, with a maximum power output of 642 MW, insufficient to bridge the significant structural deficit of the system.
The direct cause of the collapse in distributed generation is the severe shortage of fuel. For over three months, Cuba has not received regular oil shipments, stalling thousands of diesel and fuel oil generators that serve as backups to the thermoelectric system.
Recurring Blackouts
This crisis unfolded just three days after the year's fourth total blackout, which occurred on July 10 when a transmission line failure between Santa Clara and Sancti Spíritus left about 10 million people without power in just 35 minutes.
On July 8, the country experienced its largest energy deficit in history: 2,341 MW, with 73% of the population affected simultaneously.
Following the July 10 blackout, President Miguel Díaz-Canel blamed a "petroleum blockade" for the collapse, while the Minister of Energy and Mines vowed resilience amid the crisis.
In the past two years, Cuba has faced eight total blackouts of the national electric system, four of them occurring in 2026 alone. In this context, many circuits in Havana remain down due to failures, and the population has endured power cuts exceeding 20 hours daily, alongside disruptions to water supply services.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
The primary cause of the power outages in Cuba is the shortage of fuel, which has led to the shutdown of 106 distributed generation plants. Additionally, several key thermoelectric units are offline due to maintenance and repairs.
How has the shortage of fuel affected Cuba's energy production?
The lack of regular oil shipments has stalled thousands of diesel and fuel oil generators, critically impacting the country's ability to produce sufficient electricity and leading to widespread outages.
What has been the impact of renewable energy on the current power crisis?
Renewable energy, specifically from photovoltaic solar parks, has been insufficient to make up for the power shortfall, producing only 5,245 MW/hour at peak output, which does not cover the significant energy deficit.