The astronomical summer 2025 began this Friday in the Northern Hemisphere with the solstice.
This Friday, Cubans experienced the longest day of the year, which occurs as the sun reaches a peak elevation above the horizon once every 365 days.
The summer season will last until the autumn equinox on September 22nd.
Hot summer and blackouts on the island
In May, the weather station in Casablanca, Havana, recorded a maximum temperature of 38.0 degrees Celsius, setting a new historical record for that month in the area.
It is about a sustained trend of extreme temperatures on the island, linked to both strong solar radiation and climate change. All of this occurs in a context marked by constant blackouts, which further exacerbate the thermal sensation and make it difficult for the population to cope with the heat using appropriate means such as fans or air conditioning.
Cuba is on the brink of an energy collapse. The country is mired in an endless blackout: electricity availability decreases week after week, demand rises, and the deficit remains at critical levels.
This Saturday, for example, power outages are expected to approach 1,770 MW, highlighting a trend of sustained deterioration over the past week.
The week ended with a sustained increase in the deficit and longer power outages, greater pressure on thermal and distributed generation, and a clear inability of renewable sources to mitigate the impact.
If structural changes are not made—such as increasing thermal capacity or actually accelerating renewable projects—the normalization of service will remain out of reach; citizens will continue to experience continuous and prolonged blackouts, with serious implications for daily life, health, and family finances.
As our director Luis Manuel Mazorra stated in a recent text, "without electricity, without internet, and without a future, Cubans will face a summer that will not only be warm but also bleak and silent. The regime continues to rob time, rights, and dignity from a people tired of merely surviving.”
But summer has also been the stage in recent years for the ongoing protests by Cubans against the hardships imposed by the regime, starting with the social outbreak on July 11, 2021. We will see what 2025 has in store for us.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy Crisis in Cuba during the Summer of 2025
Why are there so many power outages in Cuba during the summer of 2025?
Power outages in Cuba are due to an electricity generation deficit exceeding 1,500 MW, caused by the deterioration of thermal power plants, lack of fuel, and insufficient investment in energy infrastructure. Despite the regime's promises, no effective structural solutions have been implemented to improve the situation.
How does the energy crisis affect daily life in Cuba?
The energy crisis in Cuba severely impacts daily life, affecting food preservation, access to water, and the operation of essential services such as hospitals and schools. Prolonged blackouts, which in some areas exceed 20 hours, also harm the physical and mental health of citizens.
What is the Cuban regime doing to address the blackouts?
The Cuban regime has promised to reduce daily blackout hours and increase electricity generation, but so far, the measures have not had any significant success. The strategy includes the recovery of thermoelectric units and the installation of solar parks, but generation remains insufficient to meet demand.
How is the ETECSA rate hike affecting Cubans during this crisis?
The ETECSA rate hike has made internet access more expensive, forcing Cubans to pay in foreign currency to obtain more than 6 GB of data. This has caused additional social unrest, as many are forced to choose between basic food and connectivity, deepening the digital and economic divide between those who receive remittances and those who do not.
What role do renewable energies play in Cuba's energy crisis?
Although the regime has promoted solar energy as a partial solution, the installed solar parks have not been sufficient to make up for the deficit in thermal generation. Solar energy is intermittent and cannot guarantee the stability of the electrical system, which limits its effectiveness in resolving the current crisis.
Filed under:
