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Cuba woke up on this October 15th with a situation that perpetuates the energy crisis nationwide: the electricity service remained continuously affected throughout the previous day and also during the night.
User complaints have multiplied on social media and official channels such as ToDus and Telegram, where many provinces - such as Matanzas, Villa Clara, and Havana - reported severe blackouts, outside of the planned schedule and without predictable times.
The journalist José Miguel Solís reported that Matanzas -which is also experiencing a severe health crisis- was at “maximum blackout”, meaning that the energy demand far exceeded the available generation capacity.
The province of Matanzas experienced a deficit of 130 MW, affecting thousands of families without a clear forecast of when the service would return.
Villa Clara, for its part, experienced an even greater impact, with a reported deficit of 160 MW, leaving numerous residential circuits and rural areas without power.
In Havana, the situation was no better.
This Tuesday, the capital was without electricity for 13 consecutive hours, from the afternoon until 5:30 this morning.
The peak impact in Havana reached 223 MW at 7:30 PM.
According to the state-owned company itself, the planned schedule could not be met due to low generation availability.
Unexpected breakdowns and technical collapse
One of the factors that caused this energy chaos was the unexpected shutdown of units 3, 4, and 6 of Energás Jaruco, one of the main generating plants, following an emergency trip in the feed water pump.
This breakdown left the National Electroenergetic System (SEN) in critical condition.
At the national level, the highest impact on October 14 was 1,914 MW at 7:10 p.m., a figure higher than anticipated, primarily due to the outage of these units and the combined cycle of Energás Jaruco.
Although 32 new photovoltaic solar parks contributed 2,875 MWh during the day, reaching a peak capacity of 549 MW at noon, this alternative generation was not enough to alleviate the accumulated deficit of the thermal system, the country's primary energy source.
A collapsed system: SEN data at dawn today
At 6:00 a.m. on October 15th, the SEN reported an availability of 1,774 MW against a demand of 2,864 MW, resulting in a direct shortfall of 1,085 MW.
For the peak consumption period, a maximum demand of 3,380 MW is forecasted, with only 1,884 MW available, resulting in a deficit of 1,496 MW.
The expected impact could reach 1,566 MW during peak hours, according to the official report from the Unión Eléctrica (UNE).
Major incidents that will affect electrical availability today
There are malfunctions in units 2 of the Felton CTE, 8 of Mariel, 5 of Diez de Octubre, and 3 of Renté.
-Santa Cruz and Cienfuegos units are undergoing scheduled maintenance.
Thermal limitations render 374 MW out of service.
-Fuel problems affecting 50 distributed generation plants with 341 MW less available.
-Lack of lubricants, which leaves another 156 MW unavailable.
In total, these conditions have a negative impact on 497 MW, further exacerbating the crisis.
Attempts at Recovery: A Race Against Time
The Electric Union reported that on the morning of this Wednesday, the startup of Unit 1 of the “Lidio Ramón Pérez” CTE (Felton) began, which is now online and ramping up load.
Additionally, the entry of 50 MW from distributed engines is expected, along with the return of Unit 5 of the Nuevitas CTE with an additional 60 MW, although these figures remain insufficient to stabilize the system.
From the electrical company of Havana, a call was made to the public to stay informed through official channels - Telegram, WhatsApp, ToDus, X, and Facebook - as well as the Telephone Assistance Center 18888. However, most users agree that the information arrives late, is confusing, or is simply not fulfilled.
"At the mercy of what the SEN decides"
A phrase that appears in every official statement is that the impacts "will only depend on the demands of the SEN," which in practice means that there is no real guarantee of adherence to the blackout schedule.
This generates indignation and hopelessness among the citizens, who witness their quality of life deteriorating with nights without fans, spoiled food, and children and the elderly suffering from the heat.
Testimonies are piling up: mothers who cannot cook for their children, elderly people without access to refrigerated medications, students without the means to study.
On social media, citizens are calling for answers while the UNE and the provincial electric companies provide figures but no solutions.
The energy situation in Cuba is experiencing one of its worst crises in recent years.
Constant breakdowns, lack of maintenance, fuel shortages, and structural deficiencies in the system have placed the country in a state of extreme vulnerability.
And even if more solar panels are installed or generating units are reactivated, without a structural solution that is transparent, sustained, and participatory, blackouts will continue to define the daily routine of millions of Cubans.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy Crisis in Cuba
What is the main cause of power outages in Cuba?
The main cause of blackouts in Cuba is a significant deficit in electricity generation due to structural problems within the system, breakdowns at thermal power plants, a lack of fuel, and inadequate maintenance. The obsolescence of electrical infrastructure and the lack of investment have exacerbated this situation.
What has been the most recently reported energy deficit?
The most recent reported energy deficit reached 1,914 MW nationwide, exceeding the expected figures due to unforeseen failures in key generating units such as Energás Jaruco. The system is facing a demand that far exceeds its available generation capacity.
How does the energy crisis affect the Cuban population?
The energy crisis severely impacts the daily lives of Cubans, causing prolonged blackouts that affect health, food preservation, access to water, and the operation of institutions such as hospitals and schools. The population suffers from a deteriorated quality of life while the government provides no effective solutions.
What measures are being taken to address the energy crisis in Cuba?
Authorities have tried to increase generation capacity by incorporating additional engines and generating units, as well as utilizing renewable energies such as solar. However, these measures are insufficient to resolve the structural energy deficit and have not succeeded in stabilizing the electricity supply.
What is the future outlook for the electric system in Cuba?
The future outlook for the electrical system in Cuba is bleak without a structural reform and significant investment in electrical infrastructure. Blackouts will continue to be a daily reality as long as the underlying causes of the energy collapse are not addressed.
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