On Wednesday, the Cuban Electric Union (UNE) posted a lengthy statement on their official Facebook page detailing their thermal maintenance plan scheduled for September to December 2026. The Cuban public's response was quick and predictable: widespread disbelief, sarcasm, and the familiar saying "just another never-ending story."
The state-run company’s statement admitted that many breakdowns and defects "that should have been permanently resolved remain pending or continue to occur repeatedly, leading to a buildup of technical issues in the units."
UNE primarily blamed the U.S. embargo, claiming it has "severely restricted the company's financial capabilities," hindering the acquisition of parts, components, and materials necessary for maintenance.
Among the most notable announcements was the mention of "preparatory work" for the major maintenance of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the largest in the nation, located in Matanzas. However, the statement failed to provide any specific dates.
This omission is significant. The Guiteras plant, which opened in 1988, has not undergone major maintenance since 2010. Initially promised by the government for late 2025, the maintenance was postponed in December of that year by Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy due to a "technical and risk-related issue."
The announcement was reiterated in April 2026, again without a date. Now, the new statement repeats the same "preparatory work" promise, lacking verifiable commitments.
Ongoing Challenges and Public Frustration
In May 2026, the plant's director, Román Pérez Castañeda, acknowledged that the facility requires at least 180 days of downtime and the replacement of approximately 500 tubes and between 1,000 and 1,200 weld joints. This year, the plant experienced between 17 and 20 unscheduled outages.
The timing of this announcement only deepens the mistrust. On Wednesday, Cuba's available power generation was a mere 1,105 MW against a demand of 2,890 MW, with a projected shortfall of 2,195 MW.
On August 5, a record deficit of 2,411 MW was reached, marking the largest in the history of Cuba's energy crisis. Two days earlier, the National Electric System (SEN) had its sixth total disconnection of the year, verified by both Reuters and Bloomberg Línea.
UNE's statement warns that from September to December, "multiple machines may be in maintenance or breakdowns at the same time," framing this as an "important window" to advance the system's recovery, taking advantage of the potential seasonal drop in winter demand.
For Cubans enduring daily blackouts lasting 16 to 20 hours, this technical and optimistic language is hard to swallow.
The phrase "just another never-ending story" — a popular expression used to describe an endless tale that leads nowhere — was widely used in July to react to the Energy Minister's comments on SEN's failures and resurfaces strongly with this new announcement lacking dates or guarantees.
The pattern remains: UNE announces plans, attributes the issues to the embargo, and promises improvements without concrete timelines. The tired population responds with the same skepticism as always.
FAQs about Cuba's Energy Crisis
What did the UNE blame for the ongoing energy issues?
The UNE attributed the persistent energy problems to the U.S. embargo, claiming it has restricted their financial capabilities and prevented them from acquiring necessary parts and materials for maintenance.
Why is the Antonio Guiteras plant significant in this context?
The Antonio Guiteras plant is the largest thermoelectric facility in Cuba and has not received major maintenance since 2010. Its situation is emblematic of the broader maintenance issues facing Cuba's energy infrastructure.
How has the public reacted to UNE's announcements?
The public has responded with skepticism and disbelief, often using the phrase "just another never-ending story" to express their frustration with repeated promises that lack concrete timelines or results.