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Cuba woke up this Wednesday, December 10, engulfed in another day of energy crisis.
The Electric Union (UNE) reported that the country experienced a generation deficit exceeding 2,000 MW, affecting the electricity service throughout the entire previous day, with no short-term prospects for improvement.
According to the official statement, the most significant impact occurred at 6:50 p.m. on Tuesday, when the capacity deficit reached 2,050 MW, leaving millions of Cubans without power.
The UNE anticipates that interruptions will continue this Wednesday, with an estimated impact of 1,790 MW during the nighttime peak, which means that a large part of the country will again be left in the dark.
The report details that, at 6:00 a.m., the availability of the National Electric System (SEN) was 1,450 MW compared to a demand of 2,450 MW, reflecting an immediate deficit of more than 1,000 MW.
Although the 33 new photovoltaic solar parks contributed 2,552 MWh to the system, that figure only provides a temporary relief during sunlight hours and does not compensate for the collapse of thermal plants.
Among the malfunctioning thermoelectric plants are unit 5 of Mariel, unit 6 of Nuevitas, unit 2 of Felton, and unit 6 of Renté. Three other units are undergoing maintenance—two in Santa Cruz and one in Cienfuegos—while technical limitations account for 488 MW out of service.
The situation is worsening due to a lack of fuel: 98 distributed generation plants are currently inactive, resulting in a loss of 911 MW, along with an additional 94 MW unavailable due to a shortage of lubricant. In total, over 1,000 MW of the system are out of operation due to a deficiency in energy resources, reflecting the structural disorganization of the electrical system.
In Havana, the provincial Electric Company outages lasting more than 10 consecutive hours the previous night, with an unmet demand of 328 MW. The service was restored shortly before dawn, although it was noted that the usual supply schedule would not be fulfilled this Wednesday.
The night of Monday once again highlighted the growing social unrest: residents of several municipalities in Havana, such as Marianao, Regla, and La Lisa, took to the streets to protest against the blackouts and the lack of responses from the government.
Amidst pots and pans banging, shouts of "We want light!" and complaints shared on social media, public outrage spread to other areas of the country, where protests and internet outages were also reported.
The protests, although spontaneous, reflect the exhaustion of a population that can no longer tolerate the constant darkness or the official justifications of the regime.
While the regime tries to uphold its narrative about "national efforts" and "energy resistance," the reality is that the country is experiencing an unprecedented electrical crisis. Investments prioritize hotels and megaprojects in tourism, while the electrical system is collapsing.
Power outages are no longer an exception; they have become the norm. With a deficit exceeding 2,000 MW, Cuba faces another day of darkness, uncertainty, and social frustration, while the government continues to promise a stability that has yet to materialize.
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