On Saturday, the National Electric System (SEN) in western Cuba experienced another disconnection, plunging several provinces, from Pinar del Río to Matanzas, into darkness. This occurred shortly after the region was already grappling with power outages earlier that morning, according to reports from journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso on social media.
The official spokesperson indicated that the incident happened "just moments ago" and promised further updates soon.
Earlier in the day, the National Electric Company (UNE) reported that at 6:00 am, the system's available power was merely 895 MW, significantly short of the 2,825 MW demand, leaving 1,930 MW of demand unmet at that time.
Evening Challenges and Power Deficits
The situation worsens as night falls. UNE's forecast for Saturday evening projected a mere 1,080 MW availability against a 3,200 MW demand, resulting in a shortfall of 2,120 MW. This means approximately 67% of the demand would remain unfulfilled.
By midday, UNE estimated a 1,700 MW shortfall, with little hope for significant relief throughout the day.
Thermoelectric Units Out of Service
According to Saturday's official report, ten thermoelectric units are currently offline—six due to breakdowns and four for maintenance.
The units experiencing outages include units 6 and 8 at the CTE Mariel, unit 2 at CTE Santa Cruz, the unit at CTE Antonio Guiteras—Cuba's largest thermoelectric plant located in Matanzas—unit 2 at CTE Felton, and unit 3 at CTE Renté.
Undergoing maintenance are unit 3 at CTE Santa Cruz, unit 5 at CTE Nuevitas, and units 5 and 6 at CTE Renté. Thermal generation limitations amount to 334 MW.
Recurring Issues at CTE Guiteras
CTE Guiteras has faced persistent issues throughout 2026. In June, a leak in the boiler was reported, followed by another malfunction in July while technicians were inspecting the fault during a cooling period. The plant remains out of service as of Saturday's report.
Solar Contribution and Future Projections
While solar photovoltaic parks contributed 5,288 MWh with a peak power of 822 MW on Friday, this energy source does not operate during the high-demand nighttime hours.
On Friday, the peak disruption reached 2,256 MW at 10:10 pm, according to UNE data.
The current crisis adds to a series of failures that have made 2026 the most challenging year for Cuba's electric system.
So far this year, Cuba has endured at least five total SEN disconnections, with incidents in March and multiple outages in July—particularly on the 6th, 10th, 11th, and 14th. The collapse of the western micro-system on July 11 highlighted the particular vulnerability of the region once again left in the dark this Saturday.
The historical peak of 2,341 MW affected was recorded on July 8, 2026, a number that tonight's projected deficit is perilously close to reaching.
Understanding Cuba's Power Outages
What caused the recent power outage in western Cuba?
The recent outage was due to a disconnection in the National Electric System affecting multiple provinces, exacerbated by existing power shortages and failing thermoelectric units.
How severe is the power deficit in Cuba?
Cuba is experiencing a severe power deficit, with shortfalls reaching over 2,000 MW, leaving a significant portion of demand unmet, especially during peak hours.
What is being done to address the power issues in Cuba?
Efforts include repairing and maintaining key thermoelectric units and trying to bring additional units online to increase power availability during peak demands.