Cuba's National Electric System (SEN) was experiencing a sluggish and partial recovery on Saturday, following the island's eighth complete blackout of the year. The outage occurred on Friday afternoon when two 220 kV transmission lines failed consecutively, plunging the entire nation into darkness.
The breakdown began at 1:52 p.m. on Friday, impacting the region between Pinar del Río and Matanzas, and within five minutes, it extended from Matanzas to Guantánamo. The Ministry of Energy and Mines attributed the cause to the tripping of the Matanzas-Cienfuegos line, quickly followed by the Matanzas-Santa Clara line, amid unstable weather conditions.
The reconnection process started Friday night through the creation of microsystems, gradually restoring circuits. By 9:05 p.m. Friday, the Ministry of Energy and Mines announced via the Empresa Eléctrica Villa Clara that Units 1 and 2 of Santa Cruz were operational, along with four units generating with accompanying gas.
In Matanzas, the Empresa Eléctrica reported that Unit 2 of the CTE Ernesto Guevara de la Serna was online by 7:59 p.m. Friday, with circuits being restored via the Guanábana battery, prioritizing the Faustino Pérez Provincial Hospital and other critical centers. The company warned that "while the microsystem process stabilizes, there might be fluctuations, causing power to come and go in circuits that have already received service."
In the Mariel Special Development Zone, the Unión Eléctrica (UNE) reported the activation of Unit 6 of the CTE Máximo Gómez, bringing the system to six units generating with accompanying gas.
The recovery in Havana was the most documented. An initial report showed only 3% of customers had power—approximately 30,277 out of 862,732—though this figure improved gradually.
In a later update, the capital's electric company reported 25 of 26 substations in service, 126 of 286 circuits active, and 381,488 customers with electricity, equating to a 44.2% restoration. All 45 hospitals in the capital had power, but only six of the 18 main water pumping systems were operational.
In Cienfuegos, the electric company reported partial circuits in service, prioritizing the provincial hospital, pediatric hospital, ETECSA, and CUPET, while working to establish a stable microsystem. On the Isle of Youth, the company announced tests for the GM5 unit and a block rotation scheme in three-hour intervals to distribute the limited available supply.
This eighth total collapse of the SEN in 2026 occurs amidst a structural energy crisis that the Cuban regime has been unable to resolve.
The Havana Electric Company cautioned that "the restoration is being carried out gradually as SEN conditions permit," and that customers might still experience disruptions for other reasons, even when their circuit has been restored.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cuba's Power Outages
What caused the recent blackout in Cuba?
The blackout was caused by the failure of two consecutive 220 kV transmission lines in unstable weather conditions.
How is the power being restored in Cuba?
Power is being restored through the creation of microsystems, gradually bringing circuits back online as conditions allow.
Which areas in Cuba have regained power?
Areas in Havana, Matanzas, and Cienfuegos have seen partial restoration, with critical facilities being prioritized.
Why is Cuba experiencing frequent blackouts?
Cuba is facing a structural energy crisis that the current regime has failed to address effectively, leading to frequent blackouts.