The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant, Cuba's largest power facility, exited the National Electric System (SEN) early Sunday morning, further exacerbating an already critical energy crisis during the 73rd anniversary of the Moncada attack commemoration.
Cuba's Electric Union (UNE) announced on social media that at 1:07 AM, the plant’s Unit 1 in Matanzas went offline due to a "leak in the economizer," a recurring issue responsible for most of its outages throughout the year.
The timing of this power failure did not go unnoticed on social media. "This is how the regime commemorates the Moncada defeat," activist Magdiel Jorge Castro posted on X.
Ongoing Mechanical Failures
This recent malfunction is not an isolated incident. Since the summer began, Guiteras has repeatedly gone offline, reflecting its structural decline. On July 18, the plant was connected to the SEN for just 26 minutes before another leak in the boiler caused it to shut down. Then, on July 21, it experienced another outage due to water loss in the same section.
By early July, the plant had recorded at least 17 unscheduled outages in 2026 alone, amassing 293 hours offline from January through the end of May due to defects in the economizer.
Neglected Maintenance and Its Consequences
The underlying issue is the lack of technical maintenance: Guiteras has not undergone a major overhaul since 2010. Partial repairs—such as welding, tube replacement, and hydraulic testing—have failed to fix the fundamental structural issues. Experts indicate that a comprehensive maintenance operation, requiring at least 180 days, is necessary, but authorities have indefinitely postponed such efforts.
Dire National Energy Context
This latest shutdown comes amid an alarming national energy situation. The SEN completely collapsed on July 10, marking the fourth total blackout of the year, just two days after the country witnessed its largest energy deficit in history on July 8, totaling 2,341 MW.
By July 23 and 24, UNE reported a projected demand of 3,200 MW against an availability of just 1,070 MW, with maximum disruptions reaching 2,315 MW. In Havana, power cuts ranged from 15 to 24 hours daily, while some provinces experienced up to 87 consecutive hours of outage.
On Sunday, while the regime celebrated the Moncada anniversary with a central event in Pinar del Río led by Miguel Díaz-Canel, millions of Cubans faced another day without electricity, as the nation’s most powerful plant was once again out of operation due to unresolved issues in the same component.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the frequent outages at the Guiteras Power Plant?
The frequent outages are primarily due to leaks in the economizer, a recurring issue that has plagued the plant throughout the year. The lack of comprehensive maintenance since 2010 has also contributed to its structural decline.
How is the national energy situation impacting daily life in Cuba?
The severe energy shortages have led to extensive power outages, with Havana experiencing cuts between 15 to 24 hours daily, and some areas facing up to 87 consecutive hours without electricity. This impacts everything from household activities to economic productivity.
When was the last major maintenance at the Guiteras plant?
The last major maintenance at the Guiteras plant was conducted in 2010. Since then, only partial repairs have been made, which have not addressed the underlying structural issues.