The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) declared on Sunday at 11:05 a.m. that Unit 8 of the Máximo Gómez Thermoelectric Plant, located in Mariel in the province of Artemisa, has been successfully reconnected to the National Electric System.
This unit had been offline since June 5, 2026, with the state-run company providing no public explanation for its previous shutdown.
Electricity Crisis Worsens in Cuba
The announcement comes amidst an unprecedented electrical crisis. According to UNE's morning report for Sunday, the system's available capacity was a mere 1,108 MW, while demands soared to 2,807 MW, leaving 1,723 MW in deficits.
During peak demand hours, UNE anticipated a shortfall of 2,032 MW and an impact of 2,062 MW, making this one of the most challenging days of the year for Cuba's power supply.
On Saturday, the maximum impact was recorded at 2,179 MW by 7:50 p.m., with service disruptions lasting 24 hours, including all night long.
Cubans Express Skepticism and Frustration
Besides Unit 8 of Máximo Gómez, the report highlighted ongoing outages in Unit 6 of the same plant, Unit 2 of CTE Felton, and Unit 3 of CTE Renté, while four other units were undergoing maintenance. Thermal generation limitations reached 460 MW.
The official UNE announcement was met with immediate skepticism by Cubans. Responses such as "How long will it last?" and "Who's next to shut down?" were among the first reactions.
Other comments highlighted the disparity between reconnection announcements and daily experiences: "Power plants keep coming online, yet blackouts persist for over 20 hours," one user noted.
Another added, "What worries me is that these plants keep returning online, yet we're left without power for more than twelve hours."
Documented Failures Fuel Doubt
A Cuban from Ciego de Ávila summarized the situation starkly: "Well, what good does that do me? In Morón Centro, we live in darkness all day and get power for a brief moment at dawn. When will this abuse end?"
The skepticism is well-founded. On Friday, the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant—the largest in Cuba—remained online for just 26 minutes before a boiler leak caused another failure. It was reconnected on Saturday amid similar public derision.
A Cuban woman even expressed reverse concern about the Guiteras plant: "I'm worried about Guiteras' situation; it's been nearly 24 hours online. When will it go out?" she wrote, illustrating how the population has come to accept failures as a certainty.
Understanding Cuba's Power Struggles
What is causing the electricity crisis in Cuba?
The electricity crisis in Cuba is primarily due to outdated infrastructure, lack of maintenance, and insufficient investment in the power sector, compounded by the economic challenges under the socialist regime.
How do Cubans cope with frequent power outages?
Cubans often rely on alternative sources of light and power, such as candles and generators, and adjust their daily routines to accommodate irregular electricity supply, though this leads to significant disruptions in everyday life.