On Friday, the Electric Union (UNE) shared detailed updates across provinces regarding the restoration progress following the eighth nationwide blackout of the National Electroenergetic System (SEN) in 2026, which occurred just before 2:00 PM.
The outage was caused by the sequential failure of two high-voltage lines originating from Matanzas—specifically the 220 kV Matanzas-Cienfuegos and Matanzas-Santa Clara lines—plunging the entire nation into darkness within minutes.
Efforts to restore power moved forward gradually, relying on small-scale generation systems that prioritized essential services such as hospitals, water pumping stations, and telecommunications.
Severe Power Shortages in Havana
In Havana, the situation is dire. According to the Havana Electric Company, only 11 out of 26 substations were operational at the time of the report, with just 21 out of 286 distribution circuits active.
This means a mere 63,581 customers out of 862,732 had electricity, equating to only 7.4% of the city being powered.
Of the capital's 45 hospitals, just 17 had electricity. Only one water pumping system was working out of 18 major pumping stations and supply sources.
Matanzas Utilizes Guanábana Battery for Power
The Matanzas Electric Company reported that by creating a localized grid with the Guanábana battery, they were able to supply power to two circuits: MI 1325, serving Chirimoya and the Faustino Pérez Provincial Hospital, and MI 1328, which powers the Mills, EIDE, the Fish Hatchery Station, and ECIL.
"The Provincial Load Dispatch is tirelessly working to restore electrical service in the province," the local company stated in their update.
Las Tunas Restores Power to Health Complex
In Las Tunas, the provincial electric company confirmed that by 7:17 PM, electricity had been restored to the Health Complex and part of the TK10 circuit, which supplies the Provincial Load Dispatch, via a small generation system.
Holguín Deploys Micro Grids for Essential Services
The Holguín Electric Company maintained power in critical areas using micro grids: Circuit 12, covering the Military Hospital, Pediatrics, and the Surgical Clinic; Circuit 20, which serves the Lenin Hospital, ETECSA, and the electric company itself; Alcides Pino Circuit for Communications; Circuit 18 for Guirabo Pumping; and Line 4360 for the Industrial Zone.
"Currently, we're providing electricity through micro grids to vital services," the company noted in their update.
Santa Cruz Power Plant's Unit 2 Back Online
As part of the recovery efforts, UNE confirmed that Unit 2 of the Ernesto Guevara de la Serna thermoelectric plant in Santa Cruz del Norte, Mayabeque, resumed operations, aiding the gradual restoration of the system.
This marks the eighth comprehensive failure of the SEN in 2026, with two incidents in March, three in July, two in August, and the latest on Friday.
Previous recoveries paint a bleak picture: after the fifth blackout, Havana managed only 4% service in the initial hours; after the sixth, it reached just 14% the following day. UNE has not specified a timeline for complete restoration.
Friday's collapse occurred when the system was already operating at its limits. The outage report from that day noted only 1,113 MW of available generation against a projected demand of 3,210 MW, with a maximum anticipated shortfall of 2,007 MW.
Prior to the complete blackout, Havana was experiencing 358 MW of outages across 117 circuits, while Villa Clara had 142 circuits offline and a deficit of 204 MW.
Understanding Cuba's Recurrent Blackouts
What caused the most recent collapse of the SEN in Cuba?
The most recent SEN collapse in Cuba was triggered by the successive failure of two high-voltage lines originating from Matanzas, specifically the 220 kV Matanzas-Cienfuegos and Matanzas-Santa Clara lines.
How is Cuba addressing power restoration after the blackout?
Cuba is addressing power restoration through gradual efforts utilizing small-scale generation systems. These systems prioritize essential services such as hospitals, water pumping, and telecommunications.
Why is Havana's power restoration particularly slow?
Havana's power restoration is particularly slow due to only 11 out of 26 substations being operational and just 21 out of 286 distribution circuits active. This limited capacity results in only 7.4% of the city having electricity.