Just hours after its start, Rente collapses and leaves Santiago and Guantánamo without electricity.

Hours after enthusiastically announcing the start-up of generation unit No. 3 of the Antonio Maceo Thermal Power Plant, also known as Rente, in Santiago de Cuba, the situation took an unexpected turn. The plant, which was in the process of increasing load for subsequent synchronization, suffered a failure that led to the collapse of the system. As a result, a microsystem that affected the provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo went down, leaving them without electricity service.

The Electric Company reported that the recovery of the supply will be gradual, while residents of both provinces once again deal with unplanned outages that have become part of daily routine. The initial announcement of the start of generation block No. 3 generated positive expectations among the population, who hoped for an improvement in the stability of the electric service. However, the failure of the plant has intensified frustration and criticism towards the state of the country's energy infrastructure.

On October 18, 2024, Cuba experienced a massive blackout due to the total disconnection of the National Electroenergetic System (SEN), leaving millions of Cubans without electricity. The cause was the shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermal power plant, one of the most important in the country. Although the government reported that they were working to restore the service, they admitted that there was no defined timeline for this. In Havana, even the José Martí International Airport was left in the dark, affecting operations.

In the eastern provinces, such as Santiago de Cuba and Holguín, blackouts have been prolonged, and in some areas, the population has been without electricity for more than 20 hours. This has led citizens to protest publicly. In Báguanos, Holguín, a group of neighbors demonstrated demanding the restoration of electrical service, shouting "We want electricity!" These protests reflect the growing discontent of the population with the energy crisis.

The economist Pedro Monreal described the situation as a genuine "energy bankruptcy," caused by failed internal decisions rather than external factors. Additionally, the lack of electricity has impacted other essential services such as liquefied gas, internet access, and commercial activity in general. Meanwhile, Cubans continue to face the consequences of this crisis, which remains without a clear solution in sight.