A malfunction in the transmission line connecting Rente and Santiago de Cuba left Granma province without electricity on Tuesday. A voltage drop triggered the automatic shutdown of the 110 kV line supplying power to the region, as reported by Granma's Electric Company.
The state-run entity assured that technical teams from the Electric Union are actively working to identify and fix the issue to restore power as swiftly as possible.
This is not the first occurrence of failure in this crucial power artery. On June 11, 2026, the same Rente-Santiago line experienced a trip, resulting in power outages for Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo.
Electrical System Under Strain
The incident comes amidst a period of significant fragility for Cuba's electrical infrastructure. On Tuesday, the national generation deficit reached 1,709 MW, with only 1,080 MW available to meet a demand of 2,790 MW.
Granma is one of the provinces most severely affected by the energy crisis in 2026. Some circuits have experienced outages lasting up to 72 continuous hours, prompting residents to publicly demand "at least three hours of light" from local leaders.
Historical Infrastructure Challenges
The transmission infrastructure in eastern Cuba has suffered a series of collapses. In February 2026, the shutdown of the Felton and Renté thermoelectric plants caused a massive blackout affecting Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo. That same month, the disconnection of Holguín's 220 kV substation left the entire eastern region in a state of ongoing vulnerability.
On March 16, 2026, Cuba endured a nationwide blackout lasting 29 hours and 29 minutes, and on May 14, the National Electric System collapsed again, recording a record deficit of 2,113 MW.
Structural Issues at the Core
The root of the problem is structural; nearly 60% of the generating units in the country's eight thermoelectric plants are out of service, and Cuba generates only a third of the electricity needed to meet national demand.
Although Granma has four solar parks, their generation is intermittent and relies on an initial signal from the grid to start up, making them unable to offset the grid's collapse when it completely fails.
The response from local Communist Party authorities has faced widespread criticism. Amid the prolonged blackouts, Yudelkis Ortiz, the first secretary of the PCC in Granma, resorted to sending mobile cinemas to communities without electricity—a measure deemed insufficient and out of touch by the Cuban populace.
The Cuban government had warned in December 2025 that the current year would be challenging due to the deteriorating energy system. However, the extent of the crisis has surpassed even those grim predictions, with the country experiencing at least seven total system collapses in the past 18 months.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What caused the recent blackout in Granma?
The blackout in Granma was caused by a voltage drop that triggered the automatic shutdown of the 110 kV transmission line between Rente and Santiago de Cuba.
How has the energy crisis affected Granma?
Granma has been severely affected, with some areas experiencing outages of up to 72 hours, leading residents to demand a minimum of three hours of electricity from local leaders.
What are the main challenges facing Cuba's electrical infrastructure?
Cuba's electrical infrastructure faces structural challenges, with nearly 60% of generating units in thermoelectric plants being out of service, and the nation producing only a third of the electricity it needs.