The Manufactured Gas Company of CUPET has announced a complete shutdown of its two production plants in Havana, leaving residents in seven districts of the capital without gas service for several hours.
According to the official statement, the interruption is set to begin at 10:00 PM on Thursday and last until 4:00 AM on Friday. During this six-hour window, customers in Old Havana, Central Havana, Cerro, Diez de Octubre, Plaza de la Revolución, Playa, and Marianao will be without gas supply.
The company cites the need for "maintenance and calibration of an automatic pressure control valve at one of the supply system stations" as the reason for the shutdown.
The announcement specifies that both distribution networks—the Havana network and the Playa-Marianao network—will be affected simultaneously.
Once the work is completed, the company has indicated that service restoration will be gradual, though no specific timeline has been provided for when each district will see the return of service.
The company's statement claims that "these tasks aim to enhance the quality and safety of the service provided to the public," yet for Havanans, each new interruption worsens an already deteriorating domestic situation.
This shutdown is particularly impactful given the current energy crisis in Cuba. Manufactured gas —commonly referred to as "street gas"— is unique to Havana, serving around 208,000 clients through underground pipelines that operate independently of electricity.
For many Havanans, this gas serves as the sole cooking option amid prolonged power outages, which in 2026 have lasted up to 20 hours a day in the capital.
Thursday's interruption is the latest in a series of increasingly frequent outages. Last June, an unforeseen technical failure in the natural gas delivery system left thousands of customers without service in the capital. Previously, a planned shutdown of Plant No. 1 for section and valve replacements disrupted the entire Havana network overnight.
Key Questions About Havana's Gas Service Interruption
Why is there a gas service interruption in Havana?
The interruption is due to necessary maintenance and calibration of an automatic pressure control valve at one of the system's supply stations.
How long will the gas service be interrupted in Havana?
The service will be interrupted for six hours, from 10:00 PM on Thursday to 4:00 AM on Friday.
Which districts in Havana will be affected by the gas shutdown?
Districts affected include Old Havana, Central Havana, Cerro, Diez de Octubre, Plaza de la Revolución, Playa, and Marianao.
What is the significance of manufactured gas in Havana?
Manufactured gas is unique to Havana, serving as a crucial cooking resource for around 208,000 clients, particularly during extended power outages.