Cuba woke up on Thursday to yet another day plagued by severe power outages. According to the official report from the Cuban Electric Union (UNE), at 6 a.m., the National Electroenergy System (SEN) had only 837 MW available, while the demand was 2,524 MW, resulting in a shortfall of 1,701 MW.
Wednesday's situation was even more dire, with the power supply disrupted for the entire 24 hours without any period of normalcy, not even overnight. The most critical moment occurred at 8:20 p.m., when the shortfall peaked at 2,170 MW.
Ongoing Energy Crisis Intensifies
The UNE has forecasted that during Thursday's peak hours, there will be an availability of 897 MW against a maximum demand of 3,000 MW, leading to a deficit of 2,103 MW and an expected impact of 2,133 MW. At noon, the anticipated deficit is 1,660 MW.
The only addition scheduled for the night peak is a potential 60 MW from the completion of Unit 4 at the CMC thermoelectric plant, a marginal figure compared to the extent of the deficit.
Breakdowns and Maintenance Exacerbate the Issue
The state entity's report outlines a series of breakdowns causing much of the collapse: Unit 8 of the Mariel CTE, the Guiteras CTE unit—Cuba's largest thermoelectric plant—Unit 6 of the Nuevitas CTE, Unit 2 of the Felton CTE, and Unit 6 of the Renté CTE are all out of service. Additionally, maintenance is ongoing for Unit 3 of the Santa Cruz CTE, Unit 5 of the Nuevitas CTE, and Unit 5 of the Renté CTE.
Adding to the crisis is the fuel shortage, with Unit 3 of the Cienfuegos CTE "offline due to low fuel levels at the plant." Total thermal generation limitations amount to 467 MW.
Solar Energy Offers Limited Relief
The Guiteras CTE has been plagued by a series of setbacks that further complicate the situation. The plant suffered boiler damage during the eighth national blackout of the year on September 18, caused by failures in the 220 kV Matanzas-Cienfuegos and Matanzas-Santa Clara transmission lines, leaving over nine million people without power for approximately 32 hours. On Wednesday, another issue arose during the economizer's hydraulic test, further delaying repairs.
Photovoltaic solar generation provides partial and strictly daytime relief. On Wednesday, solar parks generated 3,343 MWh, reaching a maximum output of 520 MW at noon. However, this capacity neither compensates for the thermal system failures nor covers the nighttime demand when blackouts are most severe.
This Thursday's situation is part of an ongoing energy crisis that has extended throughout September, with deficits exceeding 2,000 MW on multiple occasions and at least eight national blackouts recorded in 2026.
The accumulated deterioration of thermoelectric plants, many of which have been in operation for over four decades, chronic fuel shortages, and a lack of foreign currency to purchase fuel on the international market contribute to a structural crisis showing no signs of short-term relief.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the severe power outages in Cuba?
The power outages in Cuba are primarily caused by the deterioration of old thermoelectric plants, chronic fuel shortages, and lack of foreign currency to purchase fuel, contributing to a structural energy crisis.
How does solar energy impact Cuba's power deficit?
Solar energy offers limited relief only during daylight hours, as it does not sufficiently cover the demand or compensate for the failures of the thermal power system, especially during nighttime.
What measures is Cuba taking to address the energy crisis?
Cuba is attempting to complete minor additions to its power capacity, such as the 60 MW from the CMC thermoelectric plant, but these measures are minimal compared to the scale of the deficit.