At 6:58 a.m. on Friday, the CTE Antonio Guiteras was disconnected from Cuba's National Electric System (SEN), as confirmed by the Electric Union on its official Facebook page.
This marks the 17th time Cuba's largest thermoelectric plant has gone offline in 2026.
Just four days earlier, during the early hours of June 29, the plant had rejoined the SEN after its 16th shutdown on June 24 due to water loss in the boiler.
Even with the Guiteras operational, the projected shortfall for the evening peak on June 29 was 2,050 MW, highlighting the Cuban electrical grid's inability to meet demand, even when the plant is functioning.
As of the report, the Electric Union (UNE) had not released an official forecast for Friday.
However, Thursday's figures painted a grim picture: the maximum power outage on July 2 reached 2,081 MW at 10:00 p.m., and the forecast for Friday's peak indicated a deficit of 1,950 MW, with only 1,150 MW available against a demand of 3,100 MW.
Without Guiteras in the mix, these numbers will worsen immediately. On Thursday, the Cerro municipality in Havana endured over 24 hours and 35 minutes without power, while Matanzas—where the plant is located—experienced outages lasting up to 87 consecutive hours in July.
The Aging Infrastructure of Guiteras
The root cause lies in the deteriorating infrastructure of the Guiteras plant. It has been in operation for over 38 years and has not undergone major maintenance since 2010.
Between January and May 29, 2026, the plant was out of service for 293 hours due to defects in the boiler's economizer, which accounted for 50% of all shutdowns that year.
Experts believe approximately 500 tubes and 1,000 to 1,200 welds need repair, requiring at least a 180-day shutdown for the overhaul.
Román Pérez Castañeda, the UNE director, acknowledged this necessity but admitted that "the country's current situation does not allow it."
The Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, promised this major maintenance by the end of 2025, postponed it in December citing a "situational problem," and announced it again in April 2026 without setting a definitive date.
Compounding Issues Across the Energy Sector
Adding to the plant's structural weaknesses is the paralysis of 106 distributed generation plants due to a lack of fuel—equivalent to 890 MW—and another 1,203 MW inactive in strategic facilities.
Cuba requires between 90,000 and 110,000 barrels of oil daily to maintain its electrical system but only produces 40,000.
For July, the UNE announced the addition of approximately 400 MW through maintenance at six smaller thermoelectric plants, although the organization itself admitted this would not satisfy the national demand.
With Guiteras offline for the 17th time this year, Cubans face another weekend of widespread blackouts.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
Why is the CTE Antonio Guiteras plant frequently shutting down?
The frequent shutdowns are primarily due to the plant's aging infrastructure, including defects in the boiler's economizer and a lack of comprehensive maintenance since 2010.
What impact do these shutdowns have on Cuba's power supply?
The shutdowns exacerbate the already significant power deficit, leading to extended blackouts and an inability to meet national electrical demand.
What are the prospects for resolving Cuba's energy issues?
Resolution prospects are bleak as the country faces fuel shortages, under-maintained infrastructure, and delayed major repairs, leaving little immediate relief for the energy crisis.