The Electric Union (UNE) announced on Tuesday that the National Electric System (SEN) has been reconnected from Pinar del Río to Holguín, marking a significant milestone in the recovery process following Monday's complete blackout.
"The National Electric System is now interconnected from Pinar del Río to Holguín. Efforts are ongoing to restore connections with the remaining provinces," stated the UNE on its official Facebook page.
Among the key achievements, the UNE confirmed that Ciego de Ávila was linked to the SEN during the early hours: "At 2:40 AM, the four solar parks with a capacity of 21.8 MW were operating at full capacity, contributing energy to the SEN," the company posted on social media.
By 11:43 AM, the UNE reported that Unit 1 of the Ernesto Guevara De La Serna Thermal Power Plant in Las Tunas had been brought online and was increasing load, a crucial step for reconnecting the country's eastern regions.
Strategic Recovery Efforts
The recovery process began in Jaruco, Artemisa, utilizing the Battery Energy Storage System (BES), and progressively extended towards Mariel, Santa Cruz, and the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Thermal Power Plant in Cienfuegos. This formed a corridor that advanced to Sancti Spíritus and further eastward.
Félix Estrada Rodríguez, the director of the National Load Dispatch, emphasized that "the most critical task is to get the Céspedes units running to ensure the system's continued restoration."
The Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, stated that "our priority is reaching Felton and moving forward," referring to the Holguín thermal plant, another pivotal point for completing the eastern reconnection.
Challenges in the Capital
While the corridor progressed east, Havana had restored only 46% of its power supply — covering 131 circuits, 396,447 customers, and 269.6 MW — according to the Havana Electric Company, which acknowledged that "restoration is progressing gradually as SEN conditions allow."
Residents of the capital reported over 40 consecutive hours without electricity and days without running water. "Guanabo has been without power for 41 hours and a week without water. How long will this abuse continue?" a resident commented on the official statement.
Underlying Issues of the Energy Crisis
The blackout on Monday marks the seventh complete collapse of the SEN in the past 18 months and the third in 2026, triggered by the shutdown of Unit No. 6 at the Nuevitas thermal plant in Camagüey, causing a cascading disconnection in a system with only 1,000 MW available against a demand of 3,100 MW.
The crisis is rooted in structural issues: Cuba has not received oil shipments for over three months, 106 distributed generation plants are inactive due to a diesel shortage — leaving 890 MW unavailable — and the country's largest thermal plant, the Antonio Guiteras, hasn't undergone major maintenance since 2010.
The Guiteras, which experienced its 17th shutdown of the year on July 3 due to boiler economizer repairs, plans to synchronize with the SEN on July 9 to contribute approximately 200 MW, though the public's reaction on social media was skeptical: "To go offline again on the 10th," one user joked.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Energy Crisis
What caused the recent blackout in Cuba?
The blackout was caused by the shutdown of Unit No. 6 at the Nuevitas thermal plant in Camagüey, leading to a cascading disconnection in a system already stressed by limited power availability.
How is the power restoration process progressing in Cuba?
The restoration process is ongoing, with the National Electric System now reconnected from Pinar del Río to Holguín. Efforts continue to restore connections with other provinces, with significant progress made in specific regions like Havana.
What are some of the structural issues affecting Cuba's power system?
Cuba's power system faces structural challenges due to a lack of oil shipments, inactive distributed generation plants due to diesel shortages, and outdated infrastructure, such as the Antonio Guiteras plant that hasn't received significant maintenance since 2010.