Havana on the brink of a total blackout due to generation deficit

Power outages in Havana intensified this Tuesday to the point where the capital is virtually on the brink of an electrical collapse due to a generation deficit and the lack of availability in several units.

According to the official page of the Electric Company of Havana on Facebook, the situation has prevented the adherence to the established schedule and keeps blocks 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 out of service, resulting in an impact of 200 MW in the city.

The entity urged the public to stay informed through its official social media channels and the customer service phone number 18888.

However, in the comments section of the post itself, several users stated that Block 3 is also experiencing issues, which would broaden the scope of the interruptions and reinforce the perception that the system is at risk of a widespread blackout. Additionally, the brief statement omitted—whether intentionally or not—the extent of the crisis in Havana.

“Why isn't block 3 showing up if it was taken from us too?” wrote Milays Castillo García, while Samantha González reported that “it's day, night, and early morning without power” despite the established schedule. Others, like Jennifer Balmaseda and Lourdes Quintero, claimed that the situation amounts to a total blackout.

Residents from different areas such as Virgen del Camino also reported outages in that block, while users like Maydel Cruz Pérez demanded transparency: “Come on, face the community and explain what’s going on.”

In Santa Fe, Guanabacoa, Evelyn Mecías reported blackouts occurring outside of scheduled times that lasted from the afternoon of one day until the morning of the next, followed by new interruptions just a few hours later.

Criticism also targeted the credibility of the company. "It's all a lie, a charade," wrote María de Lourdes Marrero Santos, while Aina Hernández recalled that weeks earlier the report of a general blackout in Havana was deemed false: "It was not far off from the sad reality we are living."

Other affected areas were also mentioned, as noted by Giselle Perera: “Block 4 has been without power from 9:30 to 2 in the afternoon, what a lack of respect this is.”

This new critical situation comes just hours after Havana went dark on Monday, due to the unexpected failure of a generation unit that resulted in a deficit of 150 MW and affected key substations such as Plaza, Príncipe, Boyeros, Tropical, Rincón, and Santiago, as confirmed by the Electric Company of the capital.

The outage, which occurred at 4:50 p.m., disrupted service in numerous circuits throughout the city and forced thousands of families in Havana to face another night marked by uncertainty.

This Tuesday it was announced that Cuba would face another critical day of widespread blackouts due to a deficit in power generation of around 2,000 MW, as reported on Monday by the Electric Union (UNE) in its daily update on the situation of the National Electric System (SEN).

This situation led to Old Havana becoming a scene of public outrage again this weekend, as residents documented in video the extreme conditions in which they live, lacking electricity, gas, and potable water.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy Crisis in Havana