The Electric Union (UNE) reported that by 1:10 AM on Wednesday, the National Electroenergetic System (SEN) was fully reconnected across all provinces, including the activation of Unit 1 at the Lidio Ramón Pérez Felton Power Plant in Holguín.
Nonetheless, this technical reconnection does not mark the end of blackouts for Cuba's residents.
As of 6 AM on Wednesday, the SEN was operating with a meager availability of 1,000 MW, while facing a demand of 2,750 MW, resulting in 1,780 MW affected.
The outlook for the evening peak hours is bleaker: the UNE anticipates a capacity of 1,083 MW against a demand of 3,100 MW, predicting a shortfall of 2,017 MW and an impact of 2,047 MW.
This reconnection process followed a massive blackout on Monday, marking Cuba's seventh complete disconnection from the SEN in 18 months and the third in 2026, triggered by the malfunction of Unit No. 6 at the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant in Camagüey.
The restoration was gradual: by Tuesday, the SEN was interconnected from Pinar del Río to Holguín, culminating in a nationwide reconnection by early Wednesday.
Despite the formal reconnection, several thermoelectric units remain offline due to breakdowns: Units 5, 6, and 8 at the CTE Mariel, the unit at CTE Guiteras, Unit 4 at CTE Cienfuegos, Unit 6 at CTE Diez de Octubre, and Unit 2 at CTE Felton.
Undergoing maintenance are Unit 3 at CTE Habana, Unit 5 at CTE Nuevitas, and Units 5 and 6 at CTE Renté, with thermal generation constraints totaling 255 MW.
During peak hours, Unit 5 at CTE Mariel is expected to contribute 48 MW and Unit 3 at CTE Renté 35 MW, yet these additions are insufficient to overcome the structural deficit.
The 54 photovoltaic solar parks generated 2,512 MWh on Tuesday, with a maximum capacity of 548 MW during daytime, but this power doesn't cover the nighttime shortfall when demand surges.
The crisis has deep-rooted causes: Cuba has gone over three months without oil shipments and produces only about 40,000 barrels daily, far below the 90,000 to 110,000 needed to sustain the electrical system.
Moreover, 106 distributed generation plants are halted due to a lack of fuel, making 890 MW unavailable.
The CTE Antonio Guiteras is expected to sync with the SEN this Thursday, contributing around 200 MW, although the plant has experienced 17 outages this year alone and hasn't had major maintenance since 2010.
Social unrest is palpable: early Wednesday saw pots and pans banging in Alamar, with residents setting trash on fire in the streets, echoing similar scenes in La Hata, Guanabacoa.
In some parts of Matanzas, power outages have stretched up to 87 consecutive hours, while in Havana, the average is 15 hours a day without electricity.
Understanding the Cuban Power Crisis
What caused the recent massive blackout in Cuba?
The recent blackout was triggered by the malfunction of Unit No. 6 at the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant in Camagüey, leading to a complete disconnection from the National Electroenergetic System.
How is the Cuban government addressing the power shortage?
Despite efforts to reconnect the power grid, many thermoelectric units remain offline due to breakdowns, and maintenance work is underway on several plants. However, the lack of fuel and insufficient oil production exacerbate the challenges.
Why is there a significant power deficit in Cuba?
Cuba faces a power deficit due to a combination of factors, including a lack of fuel shipments, insufficient domestic oil production, and numerous power plant outages and maintenance issues.