On Thursday, Cuba is grappling with yet another series of widespread power outages, barely 24 hours after the Electric Union (UNE) claimed the restoration of the National Electric System (SEN) following its fifth total collapse this year.
According to UNE's official statement, the electricity service was disrupted throughout Wednesday, including overnight, due to insufficient generation capacity.
The peak disruption on Wednesday reached 2,126 MW at 8:30 pm, affecting all provinces across the nation.
For Thursday, the state-run agency predicted an even greater shortfall: 2,240 MW during peak evening hours, with only 990 MW available against a forecasted demand of 3,200 MW, resulting in a 69% shortfall of total demand.
By the time UNE shared its morning update on social media, the actual disruption had already hit 1,764 MW, with a demand of 2,858 MW. The midday forecast anticipated a 1,650 MW shortfall.
Technical Breakdown of Cuba's Power System
The technical condition of the system is dire. Units 6 and 8 at the Máximo Gómez thermoelectric plant in Mariel, the Antonio Guiteras in Matanzas, Unit 2 at Lidio Ramón Pérez (Felton), and Unit 3 at Antonio Maceo (Renté) are all out of service.
Additionally, three more plants are undergoing maintenance. A total of 106 distributed generation centers are offline due to a lack of fuel, and the Regla and Melones barges, along with the Fuel centers in Mariel and Moa, are also inactive.
On Wednesday, the 54 solar photovoltaic parks produced 3,822 MW/h but with a maximum output of 572 MW, this generation is insufficient to cover the nighttime deficit when demand surges.
Escalating Energy Crisis
Thursday's scenario directly follows a crisis that intensified on Tuesday when the SEN collapsed at 11:05 am after the unexpected shutdown of Unit 1 at the Felton thermoelectric plant in Holguín, triggering a cascading disconnection of the entire grid.
The following day, UNE announced at 7:00 am the "restoration" of the SEN with a brief Facebook post: "Cuba at 07:00 hours, National Electric System restored." However, numerous Cubans across the island reported ongoing outages.
In Centro Habana, a resident reported being without electricity for 40 hours. In Santiago de Cuba, the power lasted only 15 minutes. A resident from Alamar claimed to be without light since 4:00 am on Tuesday, questioning, "Don't we have the right to live without worrying about water scarcity or spoiled food?"
This collapse marks the tenth in about 24 months. In July, three total blackouts occurred within just eight days: on the 6th, 10th, and 14th. On the 8th, Cuba experienced its highest historical generation deficit: 2,341 MW affected, with only 935 MW available against a demand of 3,100 MW.
Underlying Causes and Ineffective Leadership
The roots of the crisis are structural. Aging thermoelectric plants, over 40 years old, are operating without proper maintenance. Compounding this issue, Venezuela halted oil shipments in November 2025, Russian oil supplies were depleted in April, and Mexico ceased its deliveries in January.
In response, Díaz-Canel merely suggested "better organization" of the outages without introducing any effective measures to boost generation capacity.
Comedian Ulises Toirac captured the public's frustration when addressing Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy: "The disaster we're living was coming," underscoring how six decades of poor economic decisions have led to this inevitable collapse.
Experts such as Jorge Piñón estimate that Cuba would need between $8 billion and $10 billion over three to five years to fundamentally resolve the energy crisis, a sum far beyond the regime's current reach.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What led to the recent collapse of Cuba's National Electric System?
The recent collapse was triggered by the unexpected shutdown of a unit at the Felton thermoelectric plant, leading to a cascade effect that disconnected the entire grid.
How severe is the power crisis in Cuba?
The power crisis is severe, with widespread outages affecting all provinces and significant deficits compared to demand. The situation is exacerbated by aging infrastructure and lack of resources.
What are the main causes of the energy shortages in Cuba?
Key factors include outdated thermoelectric plants without proper maintenance, and the cessation of oil supplies from countries like Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico.