Cuba woke up this Thursday with an apparent improvement in its electrical crisis, but the relief is incomplete: the Electric Union (UNE) reported that the National Electric System (SEN) has begun to partially reconnect, although whole provinces such as Pinar del Río, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo remain completely in the dark.
At 7:36 am, the SEN was connected, according to information revealed by the UNE on , which acknowledged that those areas still do not have electricity.
On the other hand, the Electric Union UNE reported that at 6:00 am the country was generating 1,000 megawatts, thanks to two systems created: one from Mariel to Matanzas and another from Matanzas to Camagüey.
The company promised that "in the next few hours" the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant and unit 6 of Mariel would be integrated, which would allow for the establishment of a continuous system from Pinar del Río to Camagüey.
"It is expected that two Renté units will be brought in to strengthen generation in the east," the post specifies.
The director of Electricity at the UNE, Lázaro Guerra Hernández, reiterated on state television that "the restoration efforts are progressing."
The blackout that paralyzed the country
The collapse occurred on Wednesday at 9:14 AM, when the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant disconnected suddenly due to a false signal of overheating in its boiler.
That automatic failure took the country's largest block offline and dragged down the entire national electrical system, causing a general blackout that paralyzed the island from end to end.
Although officials and state media tried to convey a sense of calm, the truth is that the recovery has been chaotic.
To restart operations, Guiteras relies on receiving external power, but the instability of the SEN has hindered synchronization.
A pattern of repeated failures
This is already the fifth nationwide blackout in less than a year, a record that highlights the precariousness of the infrastructure and the lack of real investment in the energy sector.
In October and December 2024, Guiteras collapsed, leaving the country without power. In November, Hurricane Rafael caused another complete blackout.
This year, in March, a malfunction at the Diezmero substation in Havana completely disconnected the national electric grid.
More recently, on September 7, a malfunction in the 220 kV Nuevitas-Tunas line left the entire eastern region of the country in darkness, with collateral effects reaching as far as the west.
This is compounded by the widespread blackouts experienced in Havana in July and August, which paralyzed almost the entire capital.
The people in the shadows, the regime without answers
The official narrative tries to blame "technical failures" and "weather conditions," but what is actually happening is a direct consequence of decades of neglect, corruption, and poor planning.
While the regime insists on promising future solar projects or justifying the lack of funding, millions of Cubans face the daily impossibility of cooking, preserving food, working, or even sleeping in the sweltering heat.
The partial reconnection on Thursday is not a solution: it is merely a band-aid within a structural crisis that the government has proven unable to resolve.
Oriente and Pinar del Río remain without electricity, and the entire country continues to be held hostage by a broken electrical system, a symbol of the failure of the model that the castrismo refuses to abandon.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Electric Crisis in Cuba
Why do blackouts continue in Cuba despite efforts to restore power?
The partial reconnection of the National Electric System (SEN) is not a definitive solution due to the precarious state of the infrastructure and the lack of investment in the energy sector. Despite efforts to reconnect some regions, the instability of the system and recurring breakdowns in key plants such as the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant prevent a reliable and continuous electricity supply.
What is the cause of the recent power outage in Cuba?
The most recent blackout occurred when the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant suddenly disconnected due to a false overheating signal in its boiler. This event caused a complete collapse of the National Electric System (SEN) and left the entire island without electricity. The situation was exacerbated by the lack of external energy needed to restart operations and the instability of the system.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the blackouts?
The government has promised to incorporate new generation units and solar projects, but these measures have not proven effective in addressing the energy crisis. The lack of proper maintenance, the obsolescence of the plants, and the fuel shortage remain significant obstacles. Meanwhile, millions of Cubans continue to face daily power outages.
How does the electricity crisis affect daily life in Cuba?
The electricity crisis has a severe impact on the daily lives of Cubans, affecting their ability to cook, preserve food, work, and sleep. Prolonged blackouts degrade the quality of life, create social unrest, and lead to protests in various regions. The lack of electricity also affects water supply, access to health services, and education.
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