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La Unión Eléctrica (UNE) reported this Sunday that the National Electric System (SEN) began the day with a slight relief compared to previous days, although the situation remains critical.
According to the official statement, service delivery was disrupted throughout Saturday for 24 hours, and the interruption continued into the early hours of this Sunday. The maximum impact reached 1,706 MW at 8:00 PM.
At 6:00 am, the system availability was at 1,750 MW against a demand of 2,587 MW, resulting in a deficit of 860 MW. By midday, a shortfall of 1,150 MW was projected.
On its part, during peak hours, an availability of 1,850 MW and a maximum demand of 3,350 MW is estimated, resulting in a deficit of 1,500 MW, with possible interruptions of up to 1,570 MW.
Among the offline units, the UNE mentioned breakdowns in five units from the CTE Felton, Mariel, and Renté, as well as scheduled maintenance in three blocks of the CTE Santa Cruz and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes in Cienfuegos.
However, this report was prepared before the unexpected shutdown of unit 3 of the Santa Cruz thermoelectric plant due to an emergency for washing the CAR.
The crisis is further exacerbated by thermal limitations that keep 352 MW offline and by a lack of fuel and lubricants, which affects 51 distributed generation engines totaling 333 MW and an additional 201 MW, resulting in a total of 534 MW impacted by these causes.
On another note, the UNE reported on the energy production from the 31 photovoltaic solar parks installed in the country, which generated a total of 3,024 MWh, reaching a maximum power of 622 MW during peak hours.
This contribution only covers a fraction of the national demand and reflects the growing dependence on intermittent sources due to the low availability of thermal generation.
A less serious Saturday in the capital
In the report from the Electric Company of Havana, it was stated that on Saturday a maximum outage of 125 MW was recorded at 8:20 pm, with the service fully restored by 12:53 am on Sunday.
Although it was planned to affect certain blocks between 10:00 AM and 2:30 PM, and again in the early morning between 2:00 AM and 8:00 AM, it was ultimately not necessary to interrupt the supply during those hours.
The entity reminded that the impacts depend on the demands of the National Electric System.
In another post, the company shared the scheduling of impacts due to generation deficit for the upcoming week, from October 6 to 12, 2025.
History of breakdowns at CTE Ernesto Che Guevara
In September, amid prolonged blackouts and rising citizen discontent, the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel visited the Santa Cruz del Norte thermoelectric plant to oversee the recovery of the National Electric System.
At that time, Unit 2 was undergoing major maintenance that included repairs to the turbine and boiler, scheduled to be completed by the end of October. The other two units were generating 55 and 48 MW respectively, although their staggered shutdown for cleaning and maintenance was already planned.
Unit 3, which has now been disconnected from the SEN, had been synchronized in May after a light maintenance, but this did not alleviate the energy crisis during the summer months.
This incident adds to a pattern of frequent blackouts and outages that highlights the fragile state of the national energy infrastructure.
The lack of transparency regarding outages and repair plans leaves the population uncertain about the restoration of the service.
The repeated departures of units from the SEN and the reliance on temporary measures highlight the fragility of a system that requires deep and sustainable interventions, while Cubans continue to suffer prolonged interruptions in the electrical supply.
Frequently asked questions about blackouts in Cuba
Why are there constant blackouts in Cuba?
The blackouts in Cuba are mainly due to insufficient electricity generation caused by breakdowns in thermal power plants, scheduled maintenance, fuel shortages, and thermal limitations. The country's energy infrastructure is outdated and faces serious structural issues that hinder the ability to meet national electricity demand.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the energy crisis?
Although photovoltaic solar parks have been installed, these measures are not sufficient to cover the energy deficit. The Cuban government has not implemented effective structural solutions to resolve the energy crisis, and the reliance on temporary measures has exacerbated the situation, leaving the population uncertain about the restoration of electrical service.
How does the lack of fuel affect electricity generation in Cuba?
The lack of fuel is a critical factor that limits the operation of distributed generation plants, significantly contributing to the electric generation deficit. A large part of the generation capacity is idle due to the shortage of fuel and lubricants, which exacerbates the situation of the National Electric System.
What role do renewable energies play in Cuba's energy matrix?
Photovoltaic solar parks provide a fraction of the necessary energy, but their contribution is insufficient to offset the deficit in thermal generation. Although the installed capacity of solar energy has increased, dependence on intermittent sources remains a challenge due to the low availability of thermal generation in Cuba.
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