Power Outages in Cuba: 62% of the Population to Face Blackouts This Monday

This Monday, December 8, Cuba is bracing for an alarming forecast of power outages, with 62% of the nation expected to be without electricity during peak hours. This prediction is based on official data from the Unión Eléctrica (UNE) and reported by the Efe agency.

The projected outage represents the highest percentage of national disruption recorded this year, surpassing other massive blackouts from the previous week.

The daily report released by the UNE starkly stated, “Yesterday, the service was disrupted for 24 hours. The maximum impact due to a generation capacity deficit reached 2,084 MW at 6:10 PM.”

System on the Brink: Understanding the Blackout

The National Electric System (SEN) is at a critical juncture. By 6:00 AM on Monday, the UNE reported a mere 1,075 MW of available power against a demand of 2,495 MW, leading to a deficit of 1,450 MW and disruptions from early morning.

The outlook for the evening is even more dire. Despite plans to bring certain units online, such as unit 5 of the CTE Renté (65 MW), unit 5 of the Mariel (60 MW), and the CDE Moa plant (68 MW), the expected available capacity during the consumption peak will be only 1,268 MW against a projected demand of 3,300 MW. This results in a shortfall of 2,032 MW, potentially affecting up to 2,062 MW during peak hours.

Efe has translated these figures into the percentage of the population that will be affected: 62% of the national territory will experience power outages at some point during the day, an unprecedented proportion even amid this prolonged energy crisis.

A Cluster of Failures and Shortages

The causes of the crisis are numerous and severe. The technical report outlines a landscape filled with malfunctions, maintenance issues, and technical limitations:

• Severe breakdowns in key thermal power plants, including units 5 at CTE Máximo Gómez, 3 at CTE de Cienfuegos, 6 at CTE Diez de Octubre, 1 and 2 at CTE Felton, and 5 and 6 at CTE Renté.
• Scheduled maintenance on other units, such as 2 and 3 at CTE Santa Cruz and unit 4 at CTE Carlos Manuel de Céspedes.
• A fuel shortage keeping 100 distributed generation plants inactive, resulting in a loss of 890 MW.
• Lack of lubricants causing an additional 83 MW to be unavailable.
• A crisis in thermal generation, with more than 1,040 MW out of service due to material limitations.

The situation worsened with an incident earlier this morning: Unit 1 of the CTE Lidio Ramón Pérez “Felton” unexpectedly went offline due to "a leak in the condenser." Although the UNE later announced the reintegration of Unit 5 of the CTE Antonio Maceo “Renté,” it will not be enough to fill the looming energy gap.

Frequent Blackouts Highlight System Instability

This will mark the third widespread blackout in just seven days, highlighting the system's instability. Both last Friday and Monday, over 50% of the country was without power, but never before has a 62% impact been forecasted, as is the case this Monday.

Blackouts have become a constant challenge for millions of Cubans, forcing them to reorganize their daily routines around prolonged, often unannounced, power cuts.

The repercussions are felt across all sectors: from halted basic services to spoiled food, lost workdays, and growing social discontent.

The Structural Roots of the Energy Crisis

The critical energy situation in Cuba has deep-rooted origins. Since 2024, the country's electrical infrastructure has shown clear signs of collapse.

Many of the thermal power plants have been operating for decades without adequate maintenance and with outdated parts. This has led to an exponential increase in failures that the system cannot manage.

Compounding the issue is the inability to import sufficient energy or spare parts due to a lack of liquidity and, according to the Cuban government, restrictions from the U.S. embargo.

Havana has labeled this situation as an “energy suffocation,” directly blaming the sanctions imposed by Washington for hindering the normalization of supply.

Alternative Sources: A Small Glimmer of Hope

One of the few positives in the technical report was the mention of 33 new photovoltaic solar parks, which generated 2,602 MWh on Sunday and delivered a maximum output of 495 MW during the day. However, this source remains insufficient to cover consumption peaks and is unavailable at night when demand surges.

With authorities issuing daily reports that have become routine and Cubans preparing for yet another night in darkness, there is no clear or immediate solution in sight for the crisis.

Cuba is not only facing an energy emergency. At its core, this crisis also reveals the structural collapse of a management model that has failed—or refused—to adapt to the demands of the 21st century. Meanwhile, 62% of the country prepares to spend another night in shadows.