On Thursday, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz led a strategic meeting at the Provincial Load Office of Havana to assess the dire electricity supply issues plaguing the capital and to explore solutions to mitigate the impact on residents.
The key action announced was an in-depth review of the rotation of power blocks and circuits in Havana, prioritizing areas with the most extended outage durations. This initiative aims to distribute power cuts more fairly across the various neighborhoods in the city.
Vicente de la O Levy, the Minister of Energy and Mines, attributed the service decline to a dual challenge of fuel shortages and the unexpected shutdown of several generation units. He assured that efforts are underway to restore the National Electrical System promptly in the eastern provinces.
Additionally, an increase in rapid response teams was announced to address issues swiftly, particularly with transformers.
The immediate cause for the gathering was the ninth malfunction of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant in 2026. The plant went offline at 4:58 AM Thursday due to a boiler leak, leading to a partial system collapse from Ciego de Ávila to Guantánamo.
The meeting occurred amid widespread protests in at least 12 Havana municipalities, including Guanabacoa, Marianao, Playa, San Miguel del Padrón, Luyanó, Santos Suárez, and Havana del Este. Residents took to the streets with barricades, bonfires, and banging pots to protest outages lasting up to 22 hours a day.
Roberto Morales Ojeda, Secretary of Organization for the Communist Party, acknowledged during the session that there are still organizational and subjective challenges in managing electricity, water supply, food production, and public information.
Marrero Cruz concluded the meeting by urging efforts in communities and neighborhoods, emphasizing the need for all organizations to work cohesively. "These are not times for office work but for being in the streets with the people, where the problems are," he asserted.
Understanding the Power Crisis in Havana
What caused the recent power outages in Havana?
The recent power outages in Havana are primarily due to a combination of fuel shortages and unexpected shutdowns of several generation units, as well as the malfunction of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant.
How are authorities addressing the power outage issue?
Authorities are conducting a thorough review of power block and circuit rotations to ensure a more equitable distribution of outages and are increasing the number of rapid response teams to deal with equipment failures, particularly with transformers.
What actions are being taken to restore the National Electrical System?
Efforts are focused on quickly restoring the National Electrical System, especially in the eastern provinces, by addressing fuel supply issues and repairing malfunctioning generation units.