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The Havana regime assured on Wednesday afternoon that all provinces have been reconnected to the National Electric System (SEN) after the massive regional blackout, but citizen reports confirm that the issues persist, amidst a generation deficit that keeps the country in a state of blackouts that are practically continuous.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM) published on X that “all provinces are connected to the SEN,” after the west experienced a general blackout that left areas from Pinar del Río to Cienfuegos without service, as reported on by the state journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso.
The Unión Eléctrica (UNE) stated that it is investigating the causes of the partial disconnection of the system, although it did not specify the exact time of the incident. In its most recent update, at 7:00 p.m., the state-owned company acknowledged a capacity of only 1,389 MW against a demand of 3,329 MW, a significant deficit of 1,972 MW that explains why, even when “connected,” the provinces remain without power.
A power grid on the brink of collapse: more blackouts, more deficits, and more breakdowns
The country's energy situation continues to deteriorate: on Monday, the generation deficit exceeded 2,000 MW, with impacts felt 24 hours a day.
On the previous day, malfunctions were reported in unit 2 of Felton and unit 3 of Renté, with the latter being synchronized only at the end of the afternoon.
Several units are still under maintenance: Mariel 5, Santa Cruz 2, Cienfuegos 4, in addition to the gas plant of Energás Puerto Escondido.
The crisis also impacts distributed generation: 102 power plants were shut down due to a lack of fuel (914 MW out of service), while another 72 MW were not operational due to a shortage of lubricants.
Havana without breath
In the capital, the Electric Company has published daily disruption schedules for weeks that are rarely adhered to, as the deficit exceeds what was planned. Users have been without a full day of stability for days now.
A chronic crisis: five nationwide blackouts in less than a year
The country has already experienced five national blackouts in the past year, a symptom of the extreme fragility of the National Electric System and the government's inability to reverse a crisis that directly impacts the economy, basic services, food, and daily life.
Just a few weeks ago, a massive failure left the eastern region without power, also impacting the west after the tripping of the 220 kV Nuevitas–Tunas line, which completely disconnected the system from Las Tunas to Guantánamo.
Reconnected... but turned off
Although the MINEM insists that "all provinces are connected," the reality is that Cuba remains off. Technical reconnection does not mean stable service or sufficient availability to meet demand.
The energy crisis remains one of the most serious problems in the country, with no short-term solution in sight and an increasingly deteriorated system.
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