On Sunday, Cuba experienced its sixth nationwide blackout of 2026 when the National Electric System (SEN) completely failed. The Electric Union (UNE) confirmed via Facebook that at 10:43 PM, the country's electrical network disconnected entirely.
The state-owned entity's announcement was brief: "A total disconnection of the National Electric System has occurred. We will continue to provide updates," posted UNE, without elaborating on the immediate causes of the collapse.
This complete power outage did not catch anyone off guard. It followed a disconnection on Saturday in the western part of Cuba, leaving several provinces from Pinar del Río to Matanzas without electricity.
The situation had been deteriorating over the week. On July 31, the power shortfall reached 2,042 MW, and on July 29, UNE projected a record deficit of 2,380 MW, with only 850 MW available against a demand of 3,200 MW.
Prolonged Blackouts Expected to Persist
After partially reconnecting the western part of the country, UNE anticipated a power shortfall of 2,195 MW for Sunday, with merely 1,035 MW available versus a demand of 3,200 MW. This suggests that extended blackouts will continue to affect the Cuban population in the coming hours.
This is the sixth total blackout of the SEN recorded in 2026. The first occurred on March 16 and lasted 29 hours and 29 minutes, marking the longest outage of the current cycle. Subsequent blackouts happened on March 22 and then three more in July: on July 6—affecting approximately 9.6 million people due to the shutdown of Unit 6 in Nuevitas—followed by outages on July 10 and July 14, the latter attributed to an unexpected shutdown of Unit 1 in Felton, Holguín.
Long-Standing Structural Issues Behind Energy Crisis
Cuba's ongoing electricity crisis stems from long-standing structural problems accumulated over decades: the outdated state of the thermoelectric plants, frequent breakdowns due to inadequate maintenance, and chronic fuel shortages that cripple much of the distributed generation.
Understanding Cuba's Power Outages
What caused the recent total blackout in Cuba?
The recent blackout was caused by a total failure of the National Electric System. Details on the immediate causes were not provided by the Electric Union.
How frequently has Cuba experienced total blackouts in 2026?
Cuba has experienced six total blackouts so far in 2026, with the first occurring on March 16.
What are the underlying causes of Cuba's energy crisis?
The energy crisis in Cuba is due to several structural issues, including the outdated thermal power plants, frequent breakdowns from inadequate maintenance, and chronic fuel shortages.