The National Electric System (SEN) of Cuba is teetering on the brink of collapse, waking this Thursday with a meager availability of just 1,370 MW compared to a demand of 2,850 MW. As of six in the morning, 1,495 MW were already affected, according to a report from the Electric Union (UNE).
Wednesday proved to be one of the hardest days of the year for Cubans, with the power supply disrupted for the entire 24 hours, and outages persisting even through the night hours.
The highest recorded impact was 1,874 MW at 9:40 PM, exceeding planned limits due to an unexpected surge in demand.
Nighttime Crisis Looms
The situation is unlikely to improve by nightfall. For this Thursday's peak nighttime hours, UNE forecasts a capacity of 1,400 MW against a peak demand of 3,250 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,850 MW and an estimated impact of 1,880 MW during this period.
Havana's power grid was not spared the turmoil. The Havana Electric Company reported a complete 24-hour service interruption on Wednesday, reaching a peak impact of 403 MW at 11:10 PM.
"Emergency circuit shutdowns were necessary, amounting to 105 MW, and restoring service was not possible," stated the company's briefing.
Technical Failures and Maintenance Issues
Among the major breakdowns were a unit at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, Unit 2 of CTE Lidio Ramón Pérez, and Units 3 and 5 of CTE Antonio Maceo. Additionally, maintenance at CTE Mariel, Renté, and Nuevitas left 345 MW out of service due to thermal generation limitations.
The Guiteras plant, the country's primary individual power generator, went offline on Tuesday due to another boiler malfunction, losing 140 MW. This marks the eighth failure in 2026 alone.
Commissioned in 1988 in Matanzas, the plant has never undergone major maintenance in its over 36 years of operation, and there is no clear timeline for its return to service.
Solar Power Offers Limited Relief
The only partial respite comes from the 54 photovoltaic solar parks, which on Wednesday produced 4,420 MWh with a peak power of 604 MW at midday. However, this energy is not available during peak nighttime hours when demand surges and the crisis worsens.
Fuel Shortages Aggravate the Situation
The underlying issue is the severe fuel shortage. Cuba has gone over three consecutive months without receiving foreign oil. The only significant shipment in 2026 was from the Russian tanker Anatoli Kolodkin, which arrived in Matanzas on March 31 with about 730,000 barrels donated by Moscow, reserves that have already been depleted.
Even Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged on May 2 to international solidarity delegates, "That oil is running out these days, and we do not know when more fuel will enter Cuba."
A second Russian ship, the Universal, carrying around 270,000 barrels of diesel, remains adrift in the Atlantic without a confirmed destination, partly due to the pressure of U.S. sanctions.
On May 1, President Donald Trump signed a new executive order expanding sanctions on energy, defense, mining, and financial services against Cuba.
The highest deficit recorded in 2026 was 1,945 MW on April 1. With tonight's forecast of 1,880 MW, Cuba dangerously approaches this record as millions of Cubans endure relentless power cuts with no solution in sight.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
The outages are primarily due to a severe deficit in electricity generation capacity compared to demand, exacerbated by technical failures, maintenance issues, and a critical shortage of fuel.
How is the Cuban government addressing the energy crisis?
Efforts include relying on solar power for partial relief, though the government faces challenges due to ongoing U.S. sanctions and limited international fuel shipments.
What are the future prospects for Cuba's power situation?
Without significant infrastructure upgrades and consistent fuel imports, the outlook remains bleak, with continued risk of severe and prolonged power shortages.