On Tuesday morning, Cuba wakes up to yet another day of widespread blackouts with no sign of relief in sight.
According to the official report from the Electric Union, power service was disrupted all day Monday, including overnight, with a peak outage of 2,128 MW reported at 9:40 p.m., affecting every province in the nation.
The state-run organization predicts an even more dire situation for today: an anticipated shortfall of 2,150 MW during peak hours, with only 1,080 MW available against a maximum predicted demand of 3,200 MW.
In practical terms, Cuba's electrical grid can only meet a third of the nation's energy requirements.
The Structural Breakdown of Power Generation
The extensive outages at thermal power plants underscore the structural collapse of electricity generation.
Five units remain out of service due to breakdowns at the Máximo Gómez plant in Mariel, Ernesto Guevara in Santa Cruz, Lidio Ramón Pérez (Felton) in Holguín, and Antonio Maceo (Renté) in Santiago de Cuba.
In addition, four more units are undergoing maintenance at the Ernesto Guevara, Antonio Maceo, and Diez de Octubre plants in Nuevitas.
Antonio Guiteras Plant Compounds the Crisis
The situation at the Antonio Guiteras power plant, the largest in Cuba, exacerbates the crisis further.
The plant is bracing for another shutdown from the National Electric System (SEN) due to a water leak in its boiler, just a day after reconnecting.
Previously, the plant announced on social media that it was generating “150 MW at the moment” and was “limited by high water consumption,” far below its optimal capacity of between 270 and 280 MW. The facility has not had a major overhaul in over 15 years.
Renewable Energy and Fuel Shortages
Adding to the thermal power crisis, 106 distributed generation plants are out of service due to fuel shortages, along with the Regla and Melones barges, the Mariel Central Fuel plant, and the Moa Central Fuel plant.
The 54 solar photovoltaic parks generated 4,989 MW/hour on Monday, with a maximum output of 780 MW, insufficient to make up for the thermal generation collapse and unable to meet nighttime demand.
A July of Unprecedented Blackouts
This Tuesday is part of a catastrophic July for Cubans.
On July 8, the system recorded its largest historical deficit: 2,341 MW. So far this month, the grid has completely collapsed at least five times, leaving the entire island without electricity for hours.
The impact on the population is severe. In Havana, outages have lasted over 24 hours straight; in Matanzas, up to 87 consecutive hours without power have been recorded, while tourist hotels in Varadero maintain continuous supply thanks to their own generators.
Social frustration has led to record street protests: June saw 107 demonstrations, with slogans escalating from “We want electricity!” to “Freedom!” and “Down with the dictatorship!”
The government of Miguel Díaz-Canel has responded by blaming the U.S. oil embargo, claiming Washington aims to “induce a social explosion through suffocation,” yet offering no concrete timeline for restoring service.
Meanwhile, Cubans are forced to improvise with charcoal and makeshift stoves to cook in the absence of electricity that the regime cannot assure.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
The power outages in Cuba are primarily due to the structural collapse of the generation system, with numerous breakdowns in thermal power plants and a lack of capacity to meet national demand.
How are the Cuban people coping with the energy crisis?
Cubans are resorting to using charcoal and makeshift stoves for cooking due to the lack of electricity, while enduring long hours of outages.
What has been the government's response to the energy crisis?
The Cuban government, led by Miguel Díaz-Canel, has blamed the U.S. oil embargo for the crisis, accusing it of aiming to provoke social unrest in the country.