This Monday, Cuba woke up engulfed in darkness following a complete breakdown of the National Electric System.
The state-run company Unión Eléctrica (UNE) confirmed the collapse through a brief statement on their social media: "A total disconnection of the National Electric System has occurred. The causes are under investigation. Further updates will be provided."
What makes this failure even more unsettling is that, according to UNE's concise report, there were no detected malfunctions in the operational thermal units at the time of the blackout, leaving the technical origin of the incident unexplained.
Recurring Blackouts Amidst Energy Crisis
This marks the seventh total blackout of the National Electric System in the past 18 months, happening during the most severe energy crisis in Cuba's recent history.
For Monday, the projected shortfall was between 2,200 and 2,230 MW, with only 1,000 MW available against a demand of 3,100 MW. The previous day, Sunday, saw a peak impact of 2,201 MW at 10 PM, a record UNE had already warned might be matched or exceeded.
Underlying Causes and Structural Issues
Contributing to the collapse are several thermal power units out of service: units 6 and 8 of the Máximo Gómez Thermoelectric Plant in Mariel, unit 1 of the Antonio Guiteras Plant in Matanzas — which has been offline 17 times so far in 2026 and hasn't undergone major maintenance since 2010 — and unit 6 of the Diez de Octubre Plant in Nuevitas.
Furthermore, 106 distributed generation plants were halted due to fuel shortages, accounting for 890 MW unavailable.
Cuba has gone over three months without oil shipments, relying on solar power, natural gas, and thermoelectric plants in precarious conditions. On Sunday, the country's 54 solar photovoltaic parks generated 4,679 MW/h, with a maximum output of 709 MW, insufficient to cover the accumulated deficit.
Widespread Impact and Public Unrest
The Monday collapse isn't an isolated incident. On July 4, the province of Granma was entirely disconnected from the National Electric System after a sudden frequency drop when the Lidio Ramón Pérez Plant attempted to synchronize with the system.
The longest blackout in the current cycle occurred on March 16, 2026, lasting 29 hours and 29 minutes. The ongoing crisis has tested the population's patience. In Havana and Santiago de Cuba, there have been reports of banging pots and spontaneous protests, met with police operations.
In some areas of Matanzas, power cuts have stretched to 87 consecutive hours, while in Havana, the average is 15 hours daily without electricity.
Restoring service after a total disconnection is technically challenging and can take several days, as it involves creating regional microsystems before reconnecting the large thermoelectric plants.
The UNE has not provided an estimated timeline for service restoration.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Power Crisis
What caused the recent total blackout in Cuba?
The recent blackout was due to a complete disconnection of the National Electric System, with no immediate technical explanation as no malfunctions were detected in the operational units.
How often are these blackouts occurring in Cuba?
This is the seventh total blackout in the last 18 months, reflecting a severe ongoing energy crisis in the country.
What is the impact of the power outages on Cuban citizens?
The frequent power outages have led to significant public unrest, with prolonged power cuts causing protests and frustration among the population.