This Saturday, Cuba faces a bleak scenario with ten thermal power units offline—six due to breakdowns and four undergoing maintenance—leading to a day of widespread power outages, as reported by the official statement from the Union Eléctrica released early this morning.
At 6:00 AM, the National Electroenergetic System had a meager availability of 895 MW against a demand of 2,825 MW, leaving 1,930 MW uncovered from the start of the day.
The units experiencing failures include numbers six and eight from the Mariel Thermal Power Plant (CTE), unit two from CTE Santa Cruz, the unit from CTE Guiteras—Cuba’s largest, located in Matanzas—unit two from CTE Felton, and unit three from CTE Renté.
Under maintenance are unit three from CTE Santa Cruz, unit five from CTE Nuevitas, and units five and six from CTE Renté, with additional constraints in thermal generation amounting to 334 MW.
As for the evening's peak demand, the outlook remains grim: the Union Eléctrica foresees an availability of 1,080 MW against a demand of 3,200 MW, resulting in a shortfall of 2,120 MW and an estimated impact of 2,150 MW, which equates to roughly 67% of the national demand going unmet.
The agency anticipates the partial return of three units during peak hours: unit eight of Mariel contributing 60 MW, unit two of Santa Cruz with 80 MW, and unit three of Renté providing 45 MW; however, this contribution is insufficient to mitigate the crisis.
Friday's situation was equally dire: power cuts persisted for 24 hours, including throughout the night, with the maximum impact reaching 2,256 MW at 10:10 PM. Solar photovoltaic parks contributed 5,288 MWh that day, with a peak power of 822 MW at solar noon, offering only temporary relief that fades by sunset.
This Saturday is part of what is considered the worst July for electricity in Cuba in years. The National Electroenergetic System suffered three total collapses during the month: on July 6, 10, and 14, the last of which took nearly 20 hours to restore service.
On July 29, a record deficit of 2,380 MW was recorded during peak hours, with only 850 MW available.
Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy admitted on July 30 that there is insufficient fuel—neither fuel oil nor diesel reserves—to stabilize the system, and that resolving the blackouts is a "long road" with no immediate relief in sight.
Between January and June 2026, Cuban thermal plants accumulated approximately 96,125 MW-days of unavailable capacity due to breakdowns, with Renté and Felton being the hardest hit, according to data from El Toque.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What caused the extensive power outages in Cuba?
The extensive power outages in Cuba are primarily due to ten thermal power units being offline—six from breakdowns and four under maintenance—resulting in a significant shortfall in electricity supply versus demand.
How is the Cuban government addressing the power shortages?
According to Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy, there is not enough fuel to stabilize the electric system. The government acknowledges the issue but states that resolving the power shortages is a long-term challenge without immediate solutions.
What was the peak shortfall in Cuba's power availability?
On July 29, Cuba experienced a peak shortfall of 2,380 MW during peak hours, with only 850 MW of power available.