The energy crisis in Cuba has reached a critical state as nine power generating units are currently offline, with eight others besides the Guiteras plant disconnected from the National Electric System (SEN). Three of these are down due to malfunctions, while five are undergoing maintenance.
Yesterday, the island experienced continuous power outages for 24 hours, extending into the early hours of today. The peak outage reached 1,696 MW at 6:30 p.m. local time, coinciding with the period of highest demand. As of 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, the SEN's available power was only 1,465 MW, while demand soared to 2,350 MW, resulting in a 955 MW shortfall during that time frame. By noon, the Unión Eléctrica (UNE) projects blackouts will escalate to 1,350 MW.
In addition to the Guiteras, units offline due to technical issues include unit 5 of the Mariel plant, unit 5 of the Nuevitas plant, and unit 2 of the Felton plant. Those undergoing maintenance are unit 2 of the Santa Cruz plant, units 3 and 4 of the Cienfuegos plant, unit 1 of the Felton plant, and unit 5 of the Renté plant. Furthermore, there are constraints in thermal generation amounting to 193 MW.
Due to fuel shortages, 53 distributed generation plants are out of service, affecting 279 MW. For peak hours, recovery efforts aim to restore 80 MW in engines currently out of commission due to fuel shortages, 60 MW from unit 5 of the Mariel plant, and 70 MW from unit 5 of the Nuevitas plant. With these estimates, the expected availability during peak hours could reach 1,675 MW, while maximum demand might spike to 3,180 MW, leading to a deficit of 1,505 MW. If these conditions persist, an impact of 1,575 MW is anticipated during peak hours.
The Havana Electric Company announced it would curtail electrical service to customers linked to Blocks #4 and #3 between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. due to the generation capacity deficit. Additionally, Block #1 will be affected from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Block #2 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., if necessary. However, provinces outside the capital are enduring the harshest power cuts, which has led to widespread complaints about perceived preferential treatment for Havana compared to the rest of the country.
The unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant from the SEN shortly after 7:00 p.m. on Monday—just 24 hours after rejoining the grid following another failure—triggered a crisis already brewing from frequent breakdowns and fuel shortages. The timeline for the Guiteras plant's return to the SEN remains uncertain. Contrary to previous estimates shared on social media, state journalist José Miguel Solís reported on Tuesday that it is still unclear when the plant will resynchronize with the SEN.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Power Crisis
What is causing the current power crisis in Cuba?
The power crisis is primarily due to several power plants being offline due to technical failures and maintenance, coupled with fuel shortages.
How many power units are currently out of service in Cuba?
Nine power units are out of service, with three due to malfunctions and five undergoing maintenance.
What is the impact of the power outages on Havana compared to other regions?
Havana receives preferential treatment with fewer power cuts, while interior provinces suffer more severe outages, leading to public discontent.