Holguín is grappling with relentless blackouts that are wreaking havoc on its electrical grid, causing transformers to fail at a pace the Cuban government cannot manage. On average, 2.5 transformers are damaged daily, yet only 10 replacements arrive every 20 days.
The breakdown follows a destructive cycle: after enduring power outages lasting up to 51 hours, residents simultaneously reconnect appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, rice cookers, water pumps, inverters, and battery chargers once electricity returns.
This surge in demand pushes transformers to operate at 150%, 200%, or even 300% of their intended capacity, according to a detailed report published in the official newspaper ¡Ahora! "When power is restored, everyone tries to accomplish everything within the three hours of electricity they have, putting transformers under immense strain," explained Aroldo Pupo Hechavarría, the principal specialist in Networks and Systems at the Provincial Electric Company.
Transformer Failures Spike with Power Restorations
In Holguín, between 15 and 20 transformers can fail each time power is restored, with some days seeing up to 25 units compromised in a single session.
Statistics highlight a worsening trend. From January to June 2025, there were 187 transformer failures in the province; during the same period in 2026, this number rose to 252, marking a nearly 35% increase.
"Last month, 74 transformers burned out. In a typical month, we lose about 40 to 50 in the province," noted Fabián Vega Genicio, the technical director of the Provincial Electric Company, estimating the current average at approximately 2.5 damaged units per day.
Struggling to Keep Up with Demand
This rapid rate of failure far exceeds replacement capabilities. Over the 20 days preceding the report's publication, Holguín received merely 10 transformers from national centers.
"With 2.5 transformers failing daily, meeting demand is impossible," Vega acknowledged.
At the time of the report, 43 damaged transformers were affecting 1,906 Holguín customers. The oldest unresolved case involves the Mícara community in the Frank País municipality, without power since May 28.
In an attempt to alleviate shortages, the government redirected transformers from state entities to residential areas, but this reserve has also been depleted.
The backlog in various provincial economic sectors has worsened, from 357 units a year ago to 530 now, both damaged and removed. "We have exhausted our state reserve; there's nowhere left to draw from," admitted Vega.
Temporary Solutions and Future Plans
As a temporary fix, some communities are being linked to neighboring transformers. The number of areas operating under this arrangement increased from 181 last year to 221 now, risking further damage to the transformers serving dual communities.
"Sometimes the service quality is terrible, but at least there's power," summarized Pupo.
As a partial response, Holguín's Electric Company is setting up its own provincial workshop, which may decrease reliance on national repair centers, though this comes as the accumulated deficit already exceeds 530 transformers.
Holguín's power capacity is limited to just 70 MW against a peak demand of 240 MW, providing less than 30% of what is required. This forces most residential circuits to receive approximately three hours of electricity for every 39 to 51 hours without power.
Cuba only has three specialized transformer repair workshops nationwide, located in Havana, Villa Clara, and Manzanillo, all overwhelmed. The National Electric Union admitted in June that there is no physical availability of spare parts in any province.
The crisis is compounded by the collapse of the national electrical system: Cuba experienced its fifth total blackout of the year on July 14.
Understanding the Power Crisis in Holguín
What is causing the frequent transformer failures in Holguín?
The frequent transformer failures are primarily due to the high demand surge when power is restored after lengthy outages, causing transformers to operate beyond their capacity.
How is Holguín attempting to address the transformer shortage?
Holguín is planning to establish its own transformer repair workshop to reduce dependency on national centers, but the region still struggles with a significant transformer deficit.
What temporary measures have been implemented to manage the power crisis?
One temporary measure includes connecting communities to neighboring transformers, though this risks further damage to the equipment.