Cuban citizens are facing another day of widespread blackouts this Tuesday, amid growing distrust in official data and a mounting indignation due to years of unresolved energy crisis.
The most recent notice from Unión Eléctrica (UNE) revealed that the actual impact on Monday exceeded by almost 100 MW the figure that had been announced for peak hours the day before.
While the UNE projected an impact of 1,862 megawatts (MW) for Monday, the actual maximum impact reached 1,952 MW, recorded at 9:40 PM. This discrepancy reinforces the growing perception that official figures do not accurately reflect the extent of the electrical collapse.
This Tuesday, the outlook does not improve. According to the official report, as of 6:00 AM, the availability of the National Electric System (SEN) was only 1,900 MW, compared to an estimated demand of 3,270 MW, resulting in an immediate deficit of 1,401 MW.
During tonight's peak hours, an impact of up to 1,872 MW is expected, assuming the forecast of the partial input of seven engines in the Regla barge (48 MW) is met.
The 24 new solar parks generated only 2,392 megawatt-hours (MWh) the previous day, with a maximum output of 473 MW, which is insufficient to offset the blackouts or ensure stability in the system.
The rest of the figures do not inspire optimism either: units 6 of Mariel, 2 of Felton, 5 of Diez de Octubre, and 3 and 5 of Renté remain out of service due to breakdowns or maintenance, along with Santa Cruz and Céspedes. Additionally, there are 467 MW offline due to a lack of fuel.
The citizens, exhausted by a chronic crisis that shows no signs of easing, openly question the accuracy of the UNE reports. On social media, reports of power outages that are much longer and more frequent than announced are proliferating, along with testimonials that point to chaotic and unequal planning.
Meanwhile, the regime of Miguel Díaz-Canel continues to allocate millions in resources to the construction of hotels and tourist infrastructure, while the population endures daily power outages, with no stable access to basic services such as water or food refrigeration.
The disconnect between the government's priorities and the actual needs of the citizens only serves to increase despair.
With increasingly shocking figures, the question dominating the streets of Cuba today is not whether there will be blackouts, but rather how many hours without electricity will have to be endured once again.
Havana also collapses: 24 hours without power and a massive nighttime blackout
The Electric Company of Havana confirmed that the capital experienced power outages for 24 hours on Monday, with a peak blackout of 128 MW at 9:40 p.m.
The service was not fully restored until 6:05 a.m. on Tuesday. According to the state entity on its , it was even necessary to impact the reserve block (B1), a clear signal of operational collapse.
Additionally, the official schedule for power outages was published for this Tuesday and the early morning of Wednesday, August 6, with planned interruptions for all user blocks—including the reserve block—ranging from 2 to 4 hours throughout the day and early morning.
The company reminded that, although a block may not appear on the planning list, it could lose service if a malfunction occurs.
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